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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


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■-  l»    IIIII2  2 


;:  1^ 


2.0 


1.8 


JL4    ill  1.6 


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7 


CIHM/ICMH 
Microfiche 


Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 

1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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Covers  restored  and/oi  laminated/ 
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n    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


D 
D 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag§es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  res<aur6es  et/ou  pelliculdes 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


y 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


n 

D 
D 


D 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
ere  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


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n 


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n 


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10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 


26X 


SOX 


7 


12X 


16X 


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24X 


28X 


32X 


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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

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6 

•^ 


TT 


The  Master  of  Deeplawii. 

"The  lad  looked  eagerly  for  the  r^'ply." 


Page  T). 


THE  '.      -.'         C  1  3l     .,'' 

■^  ♦  ...-•.  y 

MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


BY 

MRS.  HATTIE  E.  COLTER 


PHILADELPHIA 
AMERICAN    HAl'TIST    I'UIU.ICATION    SOCIKTY 

1420  Chestnut  Street 


i3o  xs 

Copyright  1895  by  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society 


"i: 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  I 
From  Prison  Bars, 

CHAPTER  H 
I'-NDowiNG  A  College  Chair 

' JO 

CHAPTER  HI 
Mr.  Dolliver,  .     . 

CHAPTER  IV 
Adam  Ross,    . 

32 

CHAPTER  V 
Reaping  the  Whirlwind 

' 41 

CHAPTER  VI 
Nkwfoundland 

CHAPTER  VII 
University  Life 

72 

CHAPTER  VIII 
At  Sea,     . 

84 

CHAPTER  IX 

Anselmo 

105 

CHAPTER  X 
With  Gun  and  Rod 

' 117 

CHAPTER  XI 
In  the  R    £r,    . 

134 

CHAPTER  XH 
IN  the  Border  Land, 

•     •     • 148 

3 


I 


4  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XIII 
Home  Again 155 

CHAPTER  XIV 
At  Deeplawn, 170 

CHAPTER  XV 
Farm  Laborers, 189 

CHAPTER  XVI 
From  the  Depths,     c 200 

CHAPTER  XVII 
Climbing, 212 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
Life  at  Oxford, 219 

CHAPTER  XIX 
Anticipations, 237 

CHAPTER  XX 
Wyndhurst, 248 

CHAPTER  XXI 
Whitechapel 260 

CHAPTER  XXII 
In  Summer  Time, 278 

CHAPTER  XXIII 
Peeress  and  Paupers 290 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

An  Understanding 307 

CHAPTER  XXV 
Betrothal 3H 

CHAPTER  XXVi 
Mrs.  Dixon's  Suggestions 321 

CHAPTER  XXVII 
The  Great  Deep 327 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 
The  End, 345 


jBii'imii- T'TiT 


n 


THE  MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


CHAPTER  I 


FROM   PRISON   BARS 

'T^HE  nicrht  was  falling,  and  its  gloomy  sliad- 
-*-  ows  began  to  fill  a  long  and  somewhat 
sombre  room.  That  it  was  a  library  conld  be 
seen  by  a  glance  at  the  hnndreds  of  volumes 
lining  the  walls  from  floor  to  ceiling. 

A  lad  of  fourteen  lay  face  downward  on  a  rug 
before  the  fire,  his  elbows  resting  on  a  huge  book, 
whose   illuminated    pages  he  had  been   intently 
studying.     The  tome  was  more  than  a  hundred 
years  old,  and  his  attention  had  been  directed  to  it 
by  his  tutor  because  of  the  excellent  specimens  of 
ancient  wood  engraving  wl:ich  it  contained.     He 
had  turned  page  after  page  with  deepening  inter- 
est until  he  was  arrested  at  the  eleventh  chapter  of 
Matthew,  where  from  his  cheerless  prison  John 
sent  this  question  to  the  Christ :    "  Art  thou  he 
that  Cometh,  or  look  we  for  another  ?  "     The  lad 
looked  eagerly  for  the  reply  made  by  the  Master : 


TIIK   MASTER   OK  DKRPLAWN 


"  Behold,  llicy  that  wear  soft  raiment  are  in  kings' 
honscs." 

He  pansed  to  think  and  a  sndden  rnsh  of  light, 
in  no  way  related  to  the  nuirky  twiliglit,  filled  his 
mind.  He  had  been  a  studions  lad,  loving  books 
and  eager  to  explore  their  secrets,  bnt  at  the  same 
time  indnlging  a  very  decided  relish  for  the  Inx- 
nrics  wliicli  from  his  infancy  he  had  found  ready 
provided  for  him.  He  had  only  one  brother — a 
man  grown  and  out  in  the  great  world,  eager  to  se- 
cure his  full  share  of  the  good  things  of  life  in  his 
too  brief  passage  through  it.  Their  parents  werti 
dead,  and  to  each  had  been  allotted  the  portion  of 
worldly  goods  secured  for  them  by  the  thrift  and 
industry  of  departed  ancestors  ;  in  Alan's  case 
this  could  not  be  touched  until  he  came  of  age, 
save  the  necessary  expenses  for  suitably  bringing 
him  up.  Reginald,  the  older  brother,  decided  that 
the  safest  place  for  the  lad  was  at  his  own  home, 
under  a  painstaking  tutor.  At  the  schools  he  had 
himself  acquired  tastes  which,  although  now 
as  much  a  part  of  his  being  as  his  hands  or  feet 
and  as  hard  to  sever,  his  inherent  good  sense  con- 
vinced him  would  better  never  have  been  learned. 
He  had  considerable  afTcction  for  this  younger 
brother,  which  was  returned  in  full  measure,  and 
it  would  have  been  an  exceedingly  bitter  experi- 
ence to  him  to  have  Alan  know  the  life  he  led 
in  its  minute  particulars.     He  could  remember 


FROM    PRISON    BARS 


with  perfect  clearness  the  o^eiitle  mother  who  had 
so  long  ago  faded  ont  of  life,  and  whose  words 
still  came  to  him,  at  times,  with  painfnl  distinct- 
ness. 

The  maid  entered  the  room  with  lights,  and 
seeing  Alan  lying  so  quietly  before  the  fire,  fan- 
cied he  was  asleep  and  softly  withdrew.  A  mo- 
ment later  he  lifted  the  Bible  and  carried  it  to  the 
table,  anxious  to  find  what  more  had  been  said  by 
this  wonderful  Christ.  He  looked  again  at  the  pic- 
ture oi  the  rugged  prophet  gazing  upward,  beyond 
the  prison  bars,  as  if  he  were  reveling  once  more 
in  the  freedom  of  those  vast  desert  solitudes  he  had 
loved  so  well,  upward  to  the  regions  whither  his 
spirit  was  so  soon  to  take  its  sudden  and  joyous 
flight.  Alan  read  o\'er  again  those  words,  catch- 
ing at  once  their  hidden  meaning,  and  then  turned 
back  to  the  third  chapter,  fascinated  by  this 
])ropliet-hero,  so  indiflferent  to  his  housing  and 
fare,  and  who  had  such  power  with  God  and  with 
his  fellow-men  ;  and  whom  afterward  Christ  pro- 
nounced the  peer  of  the  highest.  He  hunted  up 
the  marginal  references,  eager  to  learn  everything 
concerning  him,  but  was  disappointed  that  the 
biographers  of  that  age  dealt  so  sparingly  in  per- 
sonalities ;  and  the  history  ended  at  the  pitiable 
tragedy  where  the  over-scrupulous  king  kept  his 
word  at  such  heavy  cost. 

When  the  dinner  bell  rang  he  was  still  poring 


f 


^ 


8 


THK   MASTKR   OF   DKKTI.AWN 


over  tlie  Bible,  and  at  the  table  he  was  so  siknt 
that  his  tutor  asked  if  he  was  not  well.  His  re- 
ply in  the  affirmative  was  given  in  such  an  ab- 
stracted fashion  that  his  tutor  was  puzzled  to 
know  what  had  come  over  the  lad.  It  was  the 
custom  for  them  to  spend  an  hour  together  in 
the  library  every  evening,  and  another  hour  in  the 
gymnasium  ;  and  then,  at  nine  o'clock,  Alan  re- 
tired. On  this  particular  evening  he  went  direct 
to  the  table  on  which  he  had  left  the  Bible  lying 
open,  and  drawing  Mr.  Bruce's  attention  to  the 
prophet,  said  : 

"  Shall  we  read  to-night  about  the  John  whom 
Herod  beheaded  in  the  prison?'' 

"If  you  wish." 

"  I  have  been  able  to  find  very  little  about  him 
here ;  perhaps  you  can  tell  me  wnere  to  look  for 


more 


n 


There  is  very  little  to  learn  save  that  which 
is  given  us  in  the  Gospels.  That  is  one  great 
drawback  with  Scripture  narratives ;  one  must 
allow  his  own  imagination  to  do  a  good  deal  of 
filling  in.  From  the  character  of  the  people  and 
their  modes  of  living  one  can  frequently  do  this. 
But  one  often  wishes  as  you  do  for  definite  infor- 
mation he  cannot  get." 

Mr.  Bruce  then  went  to  the  shelves  and  selected 
several  books,  but  Alan  soon  found  that  it  was  as 
his  tutor  had  said,  and  there  was  not  much  infoi- 


111 


FROM    PRISON    RARvS  Q 

Illation  to  be  procured  ;  and  liencc  when  their 
hour's  readincr  ended  the  best  satisfaction  Mr. 
Ihuce  coukl  give  him  was  that  he  must  wait  for 
etL-riiity  when,  with  those  heroic  souls  by  his  side, 
he  mi,o;ht  learn  from  their  own  lips  their  earthly 
histories.  At  Alan's  age  this  period  seemed  so  re- 
mote that  there  was  but  small  comfort  in  it. 


if 


iji,        ■<■ 


CHAPTER  II 


ENDOWING   A  COtLEGE  CHAIR 


ALTHOUGH  he  was  disappointed  that  so 
little  could  be  learned  about  the  desert 
prophet,  Alan  continued  the  study  of  his  illu- 
minated Bible  with  unflag<^iug-  interest.  His 
days  were  methodically  arranired,  and  had  been 
for  so  long  a  time,  that  he  scarcely  thought  of 
questioning  his  tutor's  right  to  plan  his  hours. 
Reginald  highly  approved  of  Mv.  Ih-uce's  nit-tliods, 
regretting  that  his  own  boyhood  had  not  been 
regulated  on  similar  principles,  and  Alan  felt  al- 
most as  if  he  had  more  than  he  deserved  of  this 
world's  good  tilings.  They  dined  late,  and  there 
wa':  always  an  hour  before  dinner  which  belonged 
entirely  to  him  in  which  to  amuse  himself  as  best 
he  liked.  The  maid,  whose  dutv  it  was  to  look 
after  the  fire  and  lights  in  the  library,  confided  to 
her  fellow-servants  her  fear  that  Alan  was  not 
long  for  this  world. 

"  He  spends  every  bit  of  his  play-hour  poring 
over  that  old  Bible,"  she  declared.  ''He  has  it 
on  a  cushion  before  the  fire,  and  he  lies  tlierc 
reading  it  and  studying  the  pictures  just  as  if  he 
didn't  expect  to  live  a  year  !  " 

lO 


ENDOWING   A   COLLEGK   CHAIR 


II 


"  I've  known  the  like  before,"  the  housekeeper 
responded,  with  an  ominous  shake  of  the  liead. 
''  Boys  that's  going  to  live  don't  study  their  Bibles 
nnich  ;  it's  not  according  to  nature." 

For  some  time  Alan's  health  was  watched  with 
grave  anxiety  by  his  household.  The  servants 
had  considerable  interest  in  the  matter,  since  it 
was  an  exceptionally  pleasant  house,  with  light 
work  and  no  interference  in  their  plans  by  exact- 
ing employers.  If  he  became  a  victim  to  an 
early  death,  the  probabilities  were  that  they 
might  not  get  such  another  congenial  situation. 
Mrs.  Dixon,  the  housekeeper,  remonstrated  with 
him  one  ever.ing,  taking  Jane's  place  in  the  library 
for  the  purpose. 

''  What  do  ^'ou  find  so  interesting  in  that  old 
Bible?  Your  brother,  to  my  knowledge,  never 
read  a  chapter  all  by  himself  in  his  life,  and  I 
was  here  vears  before  he  went  awav  to  school." 

Alan  looked  up  with  a  flush  of  pain,  and  re- 
plied : 

"  I  am  going  to  speak  to  Rex  about  it ;  he  can't" 
know  or  he  would  read  it.  It  is  better  than  all 
the  old  poets  and  the  modern  ones  put  together  ; 
it  gives  me  better  thoughts  and  more  of  them 
than  everything  else.  I  never  knew  till  I  was 
reading  about  John  the,  Baptist  what  a  wonderful 
book  it  is." 

He  laid  the  Bible  on  the  library  table,  and  then 


12 


TIIK   MASTKR   OF   DKKPLAWN 


continued  :  "  Jnst  come  and  look  at  him  in  prison, 
and  I  will  read  what  it  says  about  him  ;  there  is 
very  little,  but  I  make  the  rest  up  in  my  own 
mind.  Here  he  is  in  the  wilderness.  When  I 
am  a  man  I  am  going'  there;  I  want  to  see  the 
desert  where  he  lived  on  locusts  and  honey ; 
wasn't  he  strong  to  be  content  with  such  fare — I 
mean  strong-souled  ?  "  He  stood  looking  down  at 
the  very  unsatisfactory  grouping  of  rocks  and 
vast  spaces  of  the  desert  with  shining  eyes,  see- 
ing them,  not  as  the  stolid  woman  at  his  side  saw 
them,  but  with  his  vivid  imagination  giving  tone 
and  color  to  those  peaks  bathed  in  the  warm 
Syrian  sunshine,  with  the  arching  blue  of  the  far 
heavens  brooding  tenderly  above  them,  as  when 
John  thought  with  God  and  walked  with  him  in 
that  vanished  but  majestic  past.  Then  he  turned 
the  leaves  to  the  place  where,  by  the  waterside, 
the  multitudes  were  assembled  when  the  plainly 
robed  fiiiure  of  the  Man  of  Sorrows  came  among 
them  to  be  baptized  of  the  prophet.  He  looked 
at  it  eagerly,  as  if  his  eyes  had  never  before  rested 
on  that  illuminated  page,  and  then  he  passed  on 
to  the  prison  scene  where  John  was  waiting  for 
an  answer  to  his  question.  It  was  not  merely  the 
faded  engraving  at  which  Alan  gazed  ;  he  saw  in 
the  eager,  questioning  look  an  expectancy  for  that 
for  which  prophets  anu  kings  had  longed,  but 
died  without  seeing.     The  prison  walls  and  the 


;  V*  V  J,^  nu  V  ^PH^* 


ENDOWING    A   COIJ.KOK   CHAIR 


13 


world  were  forgotten ;  the  joy  and  wideness  of  his 
desert  life  were  with  him  now  ;  the  mystery  of  his 
own  message  to  the  multitndes,  its  majesty  and 
promise  were  still  tlirilling  his  soul. 

"  How  grand  it  is ! "  Al  n  murmured,  with  shin- 
ing eyes. 

"Seems  to  me  it's  a  terrible  gloomy  sort  of  a 
picture.  I'd  a  sight  sooner  look  at  a  chromo," 
was  tiie  response. 

The  lad  looked  disappointed,  but  turned  to  the 
last  picture  in  the  series ;  there  was  the  same 
calm  brow  and  serene  face,  with  no  trace  of  the 
death-agony,  as  the  head  was  borne  on  the  platter 
by  the  shrinking  girl  to  her  cruel  mother. 

"  People's  hearts  in  them  times  was  crueller 
than  they  are  now.  I  am  sure  if  any  one  belong- 
ing to  me  had  the  chance  of  asking  a  gift  from  a 
king,  I  wouldn't  tell  them  to  ask  for  a  poor 
prisoner's  heod,  for  'twouldn't  be  any  earthly  use." 

"  It  is  men  like  that  who  nuikc  our  world  great ; 
no  matter  how  they  die,  they  are  living  some- 
where," was  Alan's  softly  spoken  reply. 

"Oh,  yes,  I  reckon  folks  keep  right  on  living 
somewhere  after  they  leave  here,  but  it  must  be 
dreadful  uncomfortable  getting  on  without  one's 
body." 

"It  seems  to  me  that  will  be  one  of  the  luxu- 
ries of  dying;  it  will  be  so  much  easier  getting 
around  among  the  other  worlds.'' 


%. 


14 


THE   MASTER  OF  DKEPLAWN 


If 


"If  I  was  you  I'd  not  be  thinking  about  them 
things  so  much.  It  ain't  natural  for  young  folks." 
She  spoke  anxiously  a  minute  later,  asking  :  "  Do 
you  ever  cough  any?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  do  sometimes,  when  things  go  down 
the  wrong  way,"  returned  Alan. 

He  spoke  indifferently,  as  if  the  ills  of  his  body 
were  of  little  account.  Other  duties  then  claimed 
her  attention,  and  casting  an  anxious  look  at  the 
lad  who  had  again  begun  reading,  Mrs.  Dixon 
left  the  room. 

Alan  was  beginning  to  feel  the  solitariness  of 
his  new  thoughts.  His  tutor  could  converse  more 
intelligently  on  the  Bible  than  Mrs.  Dixon,  but 
he  had  no  more  enthusiasm  on  the  subject.  His 
thoughts  presently  turned  to  Reginald,  and  he 
resolved  to  write  to  him,  asking  him  to  take  up 
the  study  of  these  great  characters  depicted  in  the 
Scriptures,  of  whom  there  were  so  many.  What 
a  revelation  it  would  be  to  Rex,  after  associating 
with  the  gay  folk  that,  by  some  fine  instinct,  Alan 
knew  surrounded  him,  to  get  acquainted  with 
the  strong-souled  heroes  who  seemed  to  him  more 
like  gods  than  the  quarrelsome,  selfish  beings 
about  whom  the  old  Greek  and  Latin  poets  wrote. 
One  day  he  asked  Mr.  Bruce  if  it  was  very  ex- 
pensive keeping  up  a  college.  The  answer  -vcis  in 
the  affirmative.  Alan  had  no  idea  of  the  extent 
of  his  own  possessions,  so  a  few  days  later,  after 


ENDOWING   A  COLLEGE  CHAIR  15 

tliiiikin,!:^   the   matter   well   over,  he   asked   how 
much  he  himself  was  worth. 

"You  will  be  a  rich  man  when  you  attain  your 
majority,"  was  tKe  reply. 

"  Will  I  be  able  to  have  a  college  of  my  own?" 

"  I  scarcely  think  so ;  it  takes  a  great  many 
thousands  of  dollars  for  that  at  the  present  day." 

Later  on,  however,  Alan  learned  that  it  was  pos- 
sible to  establish  certain  chairs  in  the  great  uni- 
versities. With  his  new  ideas  about  the  way 
heroes  should  live  he  concluded  to  do  this,  and 
meanwhile  he  could  himself  become  a  teacher 
and  live  as  cheaply  as  he  liked.  Reginald's  reply 
to  his  letter  came  duly,  and  with  it  the  assurance 
that  he  knew  all  about  the  gentlemen  referred  to, 
and  believed  them  to  be  excellent,  well-meaning 
individuals,  but  hoped  that  Alan  would  not  take 
them  too  seriously,  since  those  who  did  so  were 
apt  to  become  "  cranks,"  and  were,  as  a  rule,  un- 
comfortable sort  of  people.  Alan  was  bitterly 
disappointed,  not  so  much  in  his  brother's  esti- 
mate of  these  majestic  Hebrews,  as  in  his  brother 
himself.  There  must  be  something  organically 
wrong  in  a  person  who  was  intimately  acquainted 
with  their  lives  and  words  and  3'et  could  write 
so  indifferently  concerning  them.  It  intensified 
his  desire  to  have  the  boys  of  coming  generations 
better  acquainted  with  their  teachings.  He  was 
sufTicientlv  familiar  with  classic  literature  and  the 


i 

l,'"' 

•i  '- 

1 

■1           1 

\ 

I 


i6 


thp:  mastkr  ob^  dkkplawn 


( ■ 


nsai^-es  of  those  remote  times,  to  know  that  the  old 
heathen  to  whom  was  entrusted  tlie  training  of 
youth,  were  particularly  painstaking;  in  their 
methods  of  teaching  them  the  worship  and  study 
of  the  beings  whom  they  called  the  innnortal  gods. 
He  grew  restless  to  have  his  brother  home  again  ; 
it  would  be  so  much  easier  to  talk  with  him  than 
to  write.  He  had  not  a  facile  pen,  and  after  his 
severest  exertions  in  composition  he  still  felt  that 
his  best  thoughts  were  unwritten.  When  his  let- 
ter was  written  and  sent  it  found  Reginald  in  the 
midst  of  a  very  exciting  love  affair,  which  if  ne- 
glected at  that  critical  juncture,  might  utterly 
fail,  so  he  wrote  to  say  that  he  had  just  then  a 
matter  of  very  grave  importance  on  hand.  Alan 
was  rejoiced  to  hear  that  he  had  at  last  begun  to 
take  matters  seriously. 

To  humor  the  lad's  fancy,  INIr.  Bruce  had  per- 
mitted him  to  take  a  special  course  of  study  in  the 
history  and  literature  of  the  world's  early  ages ; 
the  Risj  Veda  of  the  Brahmins,  the  Kiu'^s  of  the 
Confucians,  the  Sutras  of  the  Sikhs,  the  Zend- 
Avesta  of  the  Parsees,  the  Tripitaka  of  the  Buddh- 
ists, and  others  of  the  most  ancient  religions,  all 
of  which  he  had  studied  with  much  the  same 
eagerness  that  average  lads  absorb  the  lurid  de- 
scriptions of  scouts,  pirates,  and  other  excrescences 
of  literature.  He  wis  certainly  getting  an  excel- 
lent foundation  laiil  for  Oriental  scholarsliip.     As 


I 


KNDOWING   A   COLMCGK   CHAIR 


17 


Ig  of 
tlieir 
;tudy 
u-ods. 
njain ; 

than 
-r  his 
t  that 
lis  let- 
in  the 

if  ne- 
Litterly 
then  a 
\lan 

cvun  to 

id  pcr- 
iii  the 
ages ; 
of  the 
Zcnd- 
[Uuldh- 

lous,  all 
c  same 
rid  de- 

Iscences 
li  cKcel- 


■m. 


ip. 


As 


the  long  snnmier  days  drew  on  he  nsed  to  take  his 
fishing  rod  and  a  book  and  while  waiting  for  tiic 
n-ili  to  attend  to  his  h  lit,  he  would  go  back  forty 
or  fifty  centuries,  and  for  a  while  forget  that  he 
was  living  in  an  age  of  electricity  and  steam,  daily 
papers  and  politics. 

Deeplawn  farm  was  patterned  after  the  Knglish 
estates.  There  were  several  hundred  acres  of  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  with  laborers' 
cottages  along  tlie  road  at  intervals.  There  was 
a  fine  growth  of  wood,  through  which  a  stream  of 
water  flowed,  well  stocked  with  fish  ;  the  water 
in  places  was  quite  deep  and  flowed  silently  ;  in 
others  it  was  shallow,  and  here  Alan  liked  best  to 
do  his  fishing,  for  its  murmur  as  it  hastened  to 
greet  the  sea  had  a  mUvSic  of  its  own.  He  used 
to  speculate  about  those  men  of  the  elder  world 
who  had  possessed  little  human  learning,  but  to 
whom  the  book  of  nature  was  opened  wide,  re- 
vealing her  heart  to  them  as  she  does  to  but  few 
in  this  feverish,  discursive  age.  Men  then  had 
time  to  meditate  ;  they  were  not  forced  to  glean 
over  vast  areas  ;  were  not  appalled  at  the  threshold 
of  knowledge  by  the  amount  to  be  learned,  and 
the  brief  time  in  which  to  learn  it;  with  them  it 
was  introspection  rather  than  absorption,  followed 
naturally  by  the  attempt  to  create.  To-day,  with 
our  immense  equipment  of  literary  lore,  no  poet  is 
able  to  reach  those  upper  notes  touched  so  natu- 


i 


X 


I  *' 


\ 


\ 


N. 


i8 


.) 

./ 


INIASTKR   OF   DKIU'LAWN 


irally  by  the  poet  who  wrote  the  sublime  epic  calltd 
Job,  and  by  some  stray  passages  in  the  Pentateuch, 
the  Psalms,  and  prophecies,  which  only  the  lofty 
musical  conceptions  of  the  great  masters  can  ex- 
press. It  is  mainly  in  this  latter  way  that  our 
later  generations  have  been  able  to  utter  their 
highest  thoughts;  poetry  itself  fails,  and  only  in 
harmony  can  expression  be  found.  Forty  cen- 
turies hence  the  wonders  of  our  day,  steam,  elec- 
tricity, and  the  multitudinous  inventions  to  which 
they  have  b^^Mi  applied,  will  not  influence  those 
remote  peoples  as  we  are  influenced  by  these  voices 
from  that  long-vanished  past.  Men  have  gone  on 
freighting  themselves  so  heavily  with  the  appli- 
ances of  civilization,  that  thought  and  fancy  are 
forced  to  the  rear,  and  since  life  is  too  brief  to  secure 
both,  most  of  us  choose  the  former.  There  may 
be  hope  that  future  generations  will  grow  wiser ; 
being  surfeited  with  materialism,  they  may  realize 
that  one's  self,  independently  of  his  environments, 
is  to  be  looked  after  first. 

In  those  long  hours  of  solitude  with  his  books 
and  the  stories  that  came  down  to  him  from  re- 
mote centuries,  Alan  found  a  satisfaction  as  dis- 
tinct from  that  his  brother  sought,  as  the  pure  air 
of  some  breezy  upland  is  different  from  the  fever- 
ish atmosphere  of  the  crowded  slums.  With 
quickened  pulses  the  thought  would  come  to  him 
that  the  age  for  grand  achievements  was  not  gone 


ENDOWING   A   COIJ.RGR   CHAIR 


19 


such, 
lofty 
.11  ex- 

.t  our 
tbeir 

nly  ill 
^  ceii- 
1,  elec- 
wliich 

1  tho.se 
i  voices 
rone  oil 

2  appii- 
Liicy  are 
o  secure 

ire  may 
wiser ; 
realize 

inments, 

IS  books 
from  re- 
as  dis- 
J  pure  air 
(he  fever- 
Witli 
[e  to  him 
Inot  gone 


forever.     Not  that  he  particularly  craved  to  take 
his  phice  in  history  ;  he  could  live  heroically  witli- 
out  so  much  as  a  news^per  notice  of  the  fact.     If 
he  were  fitted  for  such  work  God  would  certainly 
uot  withhold  it  from  hiui.     If  men  are  the  archi- 
tects of  their  own  fate,  it  was  a  palace  and  not  a 
hovel  he  wauted  to  be  building  day  by  day.    Just 
now  the  work  which  he  felt  called  upon  to  do  was 
to  fit  himself  to  fight  for  the  Bible,  to  force  upon 
uien's  minds  their  duty  in  reference  to  it,  and  to 
make  it  as  obligatory  for  college  students  to  study 
the   Bible  as   the   classics  of  Greece  and   Rome. 
Hitherto  he  had  taken  little  interest  in  the  Deep- 
lawn   tenantry.     A  lad    now  and   then  had  been 
selected  for  playfellow  in  some  of  the  games  dear 
to  a  boy's  heart,  which  could  not  be  indulged  in 
aloue.    Now  as  he  studied  his  Bible  there  came  to 
him  a  revelation  of  what  life  meant,  its  duties  and 
obligations,  and  he  resolved  to  begin  the  work 
that  lay  nearest.      Like  reformers  generally  he 
met  with  difficulties  and  in  his  own  household. 
\  Mrs.  Dixon  asured  him  that  their  entire  staff  of 
help  were  church-members,  and  in  the  habit  of 
.  sendiug  a  trifle  every  year  to  convert  the  heathen, 
|besi(les  supporting  their  own  churches  at  home. 
!     "  Surely  you  did   not   take  us  for   a  pack    of 
^heathen  ? "     she     remarked,    with     considerable 
Iwaruith. 

I  am  doubtful  if  you  are  all  as  good  as  some 


u 


r 


20 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEErLAWN 


' 


\ 


of  the  heathen  I  read  about ;  you  never  once  men- 
tioned to  me  that  I  could  be  a  better  boy  if  I  asked 
(jod  to  help  me." 

"  That  wasn't  what  we  were  hired  here  for." 

He  looked  at  her  curiously  and  then  said,  in  a  re- 
flective way,  which  was  particularly  exasperating : 

"I  think  I  would  rather  take  their  chances 
than  yours  when  mankind  are  getting  judged. 
I  do  not  think  either  Buddha  or  Zoroaster  would 
have  been  so  indifferent  under  similar  circum- 
stances." 

"You  compare  us  to  them  dirty  heathen " 

She  paused.  Alan,  although  only  a  lad  of  fifteen, 
was  more  manly  than  many  a  one  twice  his  age, 
and  it  might  not  be  safe  to  go  too  far. 

"  It  is  not  too  late  for  you  to  mend.  If  any  one 
is  anxious  to  do  his  work  well  it  is  never  too 
late  to  begin." 

"I  never  expected  to  see  the  day  that  any  one 
would  throw  up  to  me  that  I  neglected  my  work." 

"  You  did  not  understand  my  meaning.  I  did 
not  mean  the  trifles  which  make  up  your  daily 
round  here.  There  is  other  work  that  will  be  going 
on  when  Deeplawn  and  the  world  itself  will  have 
ceased  to  be." 

"  You  talk  like  a  preacher  ;  'twould  be  curious 
if  you'd  take  to  the  other  extreme  from  the  way 
Mr.  Reginald  took.  I  won't  say  but  what  it  would 
be  a  good  thing." 


Ti'  N 


KNDOWING   A   COLLRGK  CHAIR 


21 


-  nicn- 
askcd 

in  a  re- 
rating  : 
ihances 
jndged. 
•  would 
circuni- 


Wlien  Alan  spoke  in  a  general  way  she  rather 
enjoyed  his  remarks,  but  ]\Irs.  Dixon  did  not  rel- 
ish preaching  of  a  directly  personal  uature  when 
slie  comprised  the  audience. 

"  I  am  going  to  try  to  live  as  well  as  some  of 
those  old  heathen  who  had  only  shadows  to  walk 
ill  where  I  have  clear  light." 


•>} 


m— 

■  fifteen, 

[lis  age, 

any  one 
iver  too 

any  one 
y  work." 
;.  I  did 
)ur  daily 
be  going 
^rill  have 

e  curious 

the  way 

;  it  would 


.a* 

-3 


.^ 


\\ 


1 


CHAPTER  III 


MR.   DOLLIVER 


THERE  was  a  small  chapel  at  Deeplawn, 
where  ministers  of  any  evang^elical  church 
were  welcome  to  preach  as  long  as  they  did  not 
interfere  with  each  other's  appointments.  For 
the  most  part  the  tenants  were  a  church-going 
people,  hence  there  was  usually  a  fair  congrega- 
tion to  welcome  the  preacher.  It  is  tme  they 
sometimes  got  a  mingling  of  doctrines,  but  this 
may  have  been  a  help,  since  it  broadened  the 
sympathies  of  the  listeners  when  they  found  that 
in  the  main  the  same  doctrines  were  held  by  all 
the  great  churches. 

Alan  had  been  in  the  habit  of  accompanying 
his  tutor  into  the  town  on  the  Lord's  Day,  join- 
ing the  worshipers  in  a  fine  building,  with 
stained-glass  windows,  pipe  organ,  and  the  luxu- 
rious appointments  usual  in  a  wealthy  church  ; 
but  now  he  decided  to  join  the  humble  congrega- 
tion on  his  own  property.  It  was  certainly  an  act 
of  self-denial  to  forego  the  exhilarating  canter 
into  the  city  on  horseback,  the  mingling  with  the 
pleasant-looking  company  of  people  and  listening 
to  the  eloquent  sermon,  the  saunter  in  the  park 


22 


w 


MR.    DOLLIVKR 


23 


plawn, 
:luirch 
id  not 
.     For 
i-going 
iigrega- 
ie  tliey 
)Ut  this 
Lied  the 
nd  that 
1  by  all 

panyiiig 
ay,  join- 
g,    with 
le  luxu- 
church ; 
ongrega- 
ly  an  act 
g  canter 
with  the 
listening 
the  park 


f 

i 


after  dinner  with  his  tutor,  and  then  the  ride  home 
in  tlic evenin;^.  Mr.  Pjiucc  looked  surprised  when, 
one  bri;^ht  morning  in  May,  Alan  informed  him 
that  he  was  going  to  church  with  his  tenants. 

"  vSnrely  not  this  mornini^,  above  all  others, 
when  the  roadside  alon.t^^  the  way  is  one  huge 
bouquet  of  apple  blossoms  !  It  is  as  good  as  a 
sermon  to  pass  through  them,"  he  remonstrated. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  miss  them,  but  my  mind  is 
made  up.     You  will  please  excuse  me." 

Mr.  IJruce  did  not  attempt  to  argue ;  he  was  be- 
ginning to  find  that  what  the  lad  thought  was 
his  duty  he  would  carry  out  at  any  cost.  When 
Alan  entered  the  church  and  glanced  around  at 
the  bare  floors  and  uncnshioned  seats,  he  could 
not  help  speculating  what  some  of  the  old 
heathen  would  say  to  him,  if  they  could  step  across 
from  other  worlds,  for  permitting  the  worship  of 
the  immortal  gods  to  be  carried  on  in  such  rude 
fashion.  He  fori^ot  to  notice  the  looks  of  curios- 
ity that  greeted  him  while  he  began  planning  im- 
provements that  shoiild  be  entered  upon  at  once. 
As  he  glanced  through  the  widows  he  resolved 
there  should  be  no  colored  glass  inserted  to  shut 
out  those  delicious  glimpses  of  sky  and  cloud  and 
hilltops.  Before  one  window  an  adventurous 
apple  tree  concealed  every  other  view  with  its 
satin  petals  and  green  leaves.  Along  every  stage 
of  its  unfolding  and  decay  he  fancied  it  would  be 


:{! 


t 


,  II 


24 


TIIIC    MASTER  OF    DKICPLAWN 


more  a  thiiii^-  of  beauty  than  the  figures  of  the 
stained  glass  even,  with  blossom  and  fruit  and  the 
bare  branches  ontlined  against  a  wintry  sky. 
While  the  choir  sang  to  the  wheezy  accompani- 
ment of  a  reed  organ  that  had  long  outlived  its 
usefulness,  he  ceased  to  listen  to  the  sounds  that 
jarred  discordantly  on  his  ear,  but  instead  watched 
a  bird  far  up  in  the  sky  brought  out  in  relief 
against  the  deep  blue.  Years  after,  in  the  midst 
of  keen  activities  and  the  world's  din,  one  of 
memory's  most  peaceful  pictures  was  the  scene  he 
looked  at  that  day.  The  preacher  was  an  old  man, 
with  silver  hair  and  a  face  so  serene  that  Alan 
wondered  if  he  had  ever  come  in  contact  with 
sin  and  sorrow.  There  was  something  in  his  face 
and  bearing  which  brought  vividly  to  his  mind 
the  desert  prophet.  In  his  prayer  there  were  few 
set  phrases,  but  there  was  adoration  as  well  as  sup- 
plication, and  toward  the  close  he  broke  into  joy- 
ous exultation  as  he  referred  to  the  joys  awaiting 
God's  hidden  ones  on  the  other  side  of  death. 
Alan  felt  a  mist  gathering  in  his  eyes  as  he  lis- 
tened. I^ater  on  he  learned  that  the  aged  min- 
ister could  count  his  treasures  in  another  world 
only ;  wife  and  children  were  all  gathered  there, 
while  old  and  homeless  he  could  still  go  rejoicing 
on  his  way.  As  he  preached,  Alan  felt,  as  seldom 
before,  that  the  Bible  is  true,  and  goodness  the 
highest  possible  attainment  for  man.     After  the 


1!  I 


MR.    DOIJJVKR 


25 


the 
.  the 
sky. 
)ani- 
d  its 
that 
xhed 
reUef 
midst 
lie  of 
;iie  he 
.  man, 
:  Alan 
:  with 
is  face 
mi  lid 
ire  few 
as  sup- 
to  joy- 
mi  ting 
death, 
he  lis- 
d  iiiin- 
r  world 
there, 
^joiciiig 
seldom 
ess  the 
ter  the 


■a 


benediction  he  tarried  to  invite  the  minister  to 
dinner,  thinking  too,  that  perhaps  he  might  stay 
and  rest  at  Deeplawn  for  a  few  days.  Speaking 
to  him  he  noticed  that  he  looked  worn  and  his 
oarmcnts  w^ere  threadbare.  The  invitation  was 
accepted,  and  as  the  two  walked  home  through 
the  aisle  of  trees  that  bordered  the  path  and  in- 
terlaced overhead,  they  were  both  silent.  At 
luncheon  Alan  asked  the  aged  minister  if  he 
could  not  remain  ove"  night  or  perhaps  stay  a  few 
days.  The  look  of  pleasure  that  passed  over  the 
worn  face  touched  the  lad's  heart. 

"It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  do  so. 
I  have  often  looked  up  at  this  house  and  thought 
I  should  like  to  be  within  its  walls,  but  my  way 
has  lain,  for  the  most  part,  among  humble  folk; 
your  people  too,  belonged  to  another  communion." 

"  That  should  make  no  difference." 

"  No,  for  we  are  all  children  of  one  Father ;  I 
thank  him  that  my  eyes  have  been  opened  to  see 
that  the  difference  is  very  largely  in  name  :  '  other 
sheep  I  have  which  are  not  of  this  fold :  them 
also  I  must  bring ! ' "  He  quoted  the  words  softly, 
scarce  thinking  the  lad  would  understand  what 
he  meant. 

"Who  said  that?"  Alan  asked,  eagerly. 

"  The  ]\Iaster  himself;  so  it  is  true,  it  is  true." 
He  repeated  the  words  as  if  he  found  them  ex- 
ceedingly comforting. 


26 


TIIK   MASTER  OF   DK1CPLA.WN 


I    'i;i 


"  It  may  mean  all,  everywhere  among  other 
peoples  than  Christians,  who  long  to  live  right," 
Alan  snggested,  thonghtfuUy. 

"  Yes,  all  of  them.  I  did  not  think  so  once, 
but  Ood  has  shown  me  better.  I  am  learning 
that  he  judges  by  the  heart  rather  than  by  the 
knowledge." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  you  say  that." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  you  have  begun  to  think 
about  these  great  problems?  " 

The  old  man  bent  a  keen  look  on  the  hand- 
some face  opposite,  which  hitherto  he  had  re- 
garded as  somewhat  stern  and  imperious,  cer- 
tainly not  a  youth  given  to  meditating  on 
the  attractions  of  theology ;  it  seemed  as  if 
nature  had  intended  him  for  a  fighter  rather  than 
for  a  dreamer. 

"Are  they  not  the  highest  questions  we  can 
study — the  most  important?"  There  was  an 
added  flush  on  the  ruddy  cheek  as  Alan  asked 
the  question. 

"  Some  divines  nowadays  try  to  convince  us 
that  the  fall  in  Eden  was  a  fall  upward,  but  with 
my  experience  with  mankind,  I  am  led  to  be- 
lieve that  we  have  received  a  terrible  blow  some- 
where. I  have  the  effects  of  it  in  myself.  Our 
true  evolution  begins  when  we  come  back  to  God  ; 
we  are  away  from  him — we  must  be  born  anew 
to  get  back  to  him." 


•v 


MR.    DOLLIVER 


27 


the 


land- 
d  re- 
cer- 
g  on 
as  if 
•  than 


Alan  presently  broke  the  silence  by  a  still  more 
surprising  question.  "Was  that  what  Christ 
meant  when  he  said  to  Nicodemus :  '  Ye  must  be 
bom  again '?" 

u  Yes." 

"  I  am  trying  to  comply  with  the  requirements 
given  by  him." 

''Who  has  taught  you?"  was  the  astonished 
question. 

"No  one;  I  was  looking  through  the  Bible 
when  I  stuuibled  on  the  truth." 

"It  is  a  most  unusual  circumstance." 

"It  should  not  be.  I  have  been  studying  the 
sacred  books  of  other  great  religions,  giving  all  a 
fair  chauce;  but  I  find  the  Bible  different  from  all 
the  others." 

"  It  was  a  dangerous  experiment  for  a  lad  to 
study  all  those  misleading  lights." 

"  No ;  tlie  coutrast  only  drew  me  the  closer  to 
our  own  religion.  I  have  been  surprised  that  uien 
should  begin  doubting  because  there  were  mys- 
teries. I  like  to  know  there  are  such.  I  am  not 
anxious  to  know  all  things,  not  even  in  eternity. 
I  want  always  to  be  going  on  in  the  solution  of 
these  mysteries  but  never  to  overtake  all  knowl- 
edge.'" 

Mr.  DoUiver  sat  watching  him  with  a  curious 
intentness.  Here  surely,  he  thought,  is  one  for 
whom  the  Master  has  some  especial  work.    It  did 


^ 


2S 


TUIC   MASTKR  OF  DKKPLAWN 


1 


•  1  Bj 
III 


\    i 


M 


ii 


not  (Kciir  to  him  that  there  was  any  career  for 
him  except  to  become  a  preacher. 

After  hiiicheon  Alan  took  Mr.  Dolliver  to  the 
library.  The  windows  were  open  to  the  ground, 
and  there  floated  through  them  the  busy  twitter- 
ing of  the  birds  along  with  the  exhalations  of  the 
apple  blossoms.  Mr.  Dolliver  cast  a  hungry  glance 
around  the  book-lined  walls  and  on  the  tables 
that  stood  loaded  with  current  magazines,  reviews, 
and  newspapers,  and  then  he  sank  into  a  leather- 
covered  chair  with  a  sigh  of  deep  content. 

"This  comes  nearest  to  my  ideal  of  heaven  of 
any  place  I  get  into  save  a  revival  meeting,"  he 
remarked,  with  another  leisurely  survey  of  the 
room.  "  My  young  brother,  the  Lord  has  been 
very  good  to  you." 

"Do  you  not  have  all  the  books  you  want?" 
Alan  asked.  . 

"  Oh,  no."  He  spoke  quietly  as  if  that  were 
quite  out  of  the  question. 

"I  fancied  whatever  else  might  be  wanting, 
preachers  would  be  well  supplied  with  literature," 
returned  Alan. 

"  That  has  been  one  of  my  greatest  privations. 
Years  ago  I  did  not  so  much  mind  going  poorly 
clad  and  not  too  well  fed  ;  it  was  the  being  starved 
mentally,  the  hunger  for  what  I  knew  was  to  be 
had  but  for  my  poverty,  that  grieved  me.  I  have 
grown  used  to  it  now ;  the  end  is  not  far  off  and 


^1 

1 
M 


t 


111 


MR.   DOIJJVER 


29 


•?" 


:ing, 


then  I  shall  never  know  hunc^er  of  any  kind 
ai^ciin  ;  besides  God  has  provided  me  other  fare." 
"  If  you  will  permit  me,  I  shall  see  that  you 
never  want  for  anything  again  in  this  world." 
Alan  spoke  modestly  ;  he  seemed  timid  ot  offering 
charity.  Ministers,  of  late,  no  matter  of  what 
church  or  quality,  had  impressed  him  as  a  superior 
type  of  beings.  Mr.  Dolliver  looked  at  him  in  a 
puzzled  way  as  he  returned,  "I  do  not  understand 


your  meaning, 


n 


He  could  not  comprehend  that  Alan  was  offer- 
ing him  right  of  way  for  life  in  that  magnificent 
li])rary,  with  food  and  shelter  added. 

"  Where  do  you  live  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  particular  home.  God  has  taken 
to  himself  all  my  loved  ones.  I  am  waiting  till 
he  l)i(ls  me  come." 

"  Where  do  you  keep  your  books  and  household 
stuff?" 

"One  trunk  easily  holds  my  worldly  store.  I 
have  not  tried  to  lay  up  for  myself."  God  knew 
all  about  me,  so  I  have  given  everything  I  could 
si)are  to  make  this  a  better  world  ;  it  may  be  I 
have  been  unwise,  some  have  told  me  so,  but  I 
felt  safe  to  trust  him.  If  no  other  way  is  open 
he  will  make  room  for  me  up  there." 

He  was  gazing  calmly  up  along  the  blue  high- 
way we  all  instinctively  feel  leads  heavenward. 

"Won't  you  come  and  stay  with  me?    You  can 


1    i! 


I 


in  t 


III 


!  il 


k' 


3^^ 


THE   MASTER  OF   DKP:pi,AVVN 


preach  and  visit  all  you  wish,  but  let  this  be  home ; 
we  have  <juest-chanibers  enou<^h  to  entertain  a 
score  of  visitors." 

-  "  Your  friends — what  will  they  say  ?  I  am  not 
of  your  church  and  only  an  old  man  that  the  world 
holds  but  lightly." 

''My  brother  is  the  only  one  to  interfere;  he 
lets  me  do  just  what  I  like." 

The  tears  were  stealing  down  the  furrowed 
cheeks  while,  with  lifted  eyes,  the  aged  pilgrim 
murmured  brokenly  his  thanks  to  God  ;  such  a 
lifting  of  care  from  his  heart  could  onlv  find  re- 
lief  in  that  way.  To  Alan  the  spirit  world  had 
never  before  seemed  so  real  and  the  presence  of 
the  infinite  love  so  close  and  tender.  Mr.  Dolliver 
went  to  church  that  eveuino  through  the  mellow 
glow  of  the  sunset,  feeling  as  if  just  beyond  the 
golden  western  bars  the  shining  of  the  city's  walls 
where  dwelt  his  loved  ones,  might  almost  be  seen. 
All  the  loneliness  of  life  seemed  to  have  fallen 
from  him,  there  was  nothing  further  to  dread,  and 
God  had  been  faithful  to  the  trust  committed  to 
him.  With  a  miser's  economy,  and  the  closing  of 
his  heart  against  every  charity,  he  could  not  have 
secured  such  a  home  as  this  in  which  to  go  down 
into  the  valley  of  old  age.  He  had  only  craved 
the  simplest  fare  and  housing,  but  the  Heavenly 
Father  had  seen  fit  to  give  him  something:  far 
better. 


ii 

■J 


MR.    DOLLIVKR 


31 


Alan  accompanied  liiiii,  listeiiiiig-  to  the  sermon 
willi  something-  of  a  feeling  of  proprietary  riglu 
in  it,  while  he  wonld  as  soon  have  thonght  of  crit- 
icising the  snnshine  as  the  old  man's  preaching 
and  pra}ers. 


f 


!il 


I 


if 


m  I 


m  I 


I  M      I 


CHAPTER  IV 


ADAM   ROSS 


WHEN  Mr.  Bruce  came  down  to  breakfast 
the  follo\vin<^  iiioriiiiii^  he  was  surprised 
to  see  a  fine,  patriarchal  face  opposite  him. 
Alan  went  through  the  presentation  somewhat 
diffidently,  and  later  on,  when  he  explained  to 
his  tutor  that  Mr.  Dolliver  was  not  merely  the 
guest  of  a  night,  but  was  to  remain  during  the 
rest  of  his  life,  Mr.  Bruce  looked  first  amused  and 
then  perplexed. 

"  What  will  your  brother  say  to  such  a  Quixotic 
arrangement  ?  " 

"  It  is  as  much  my  home  as  his  ;  I  do  not  inter- 
fere with  his  pleasures,  and  they  cost  much  more 
than  mine." 

"  You  will  not  then  consult  him  in  the  matter?  " 
*'  I'll  mention  what  I  have  done,  that  is  all." 
Mr.  Bruce  noticed  the  subtle  change  that  was 
taking   place  in   his  pupil — the  boyish  outlines 
were  developing  into  a  vigorous  strength,  fore- 
shadowing a  manhood  with  fixed  purpose. 

Gradually  they  grew  into  the  habit  of  consider- 
ing Mr.  Dolliver  as  much  a  member  of  the  fam- 
ily as  if  he  had  always  been  there ;  the  servants 
32 


III 


ADAM    ROSS 


33 


vfast 
riscd 
him. 
;\vliat 
ed  to 
y  the 
g  the 
>d  and 

lixotic 

inter- 
\\  more 


tter 


7" 


lall." 
lat  was 
lutlines 
fore- 

)nslder- 

ue  fam- 
lervants 


all  likc'd  him,  and  were  as  ready  to  welcome  him 
ba  k  iVom  his  pil<;riina<4es  as  Aim  himself,  u,y  he 
still  continue*!  to  go  from  place  to  place,  visiting 
tiie  sick  and  neglected  and  preaching  to  all  who 
would  come  to  hear  liini.  He  was  not  calculated 
to  draw  crowds  with  his  preaching,  and  he  used 
to  say  that  in  one  way  the  Master  could  not  s\ni- 
pathize  with  some  of  his  messengers,  for  the 
people  had  listened  to  him  gladly,  themselves 
making  the  preaching  appointments  by  throng- 
ing in  such  crowds  to  his  remote  hiding-places 
that  he  was  compelled  to  speak  to  them. 

Mr.  Dolliver  had  never  thought  of  ceasing  to 
preach  because  of  his  slender  congregations,  and  a 
score  of  listeners  would  make  him  content.  He 
was  fallimr  now  into  the  crentle  childhood  of 
the  aged  Christian,  which  sometimes  conies  when 
the  storms  of  life  are  over  and  God  lets  them 
rest  awhile  before  entering  upon  the  splendid  ac- 
tivities of  immortality.  It  was  only  natural  that, 
as  he  went  his  rounds  in  the  pony  carriage  drawn 
by  tlie  steady  horse  Alan  had  provided  him,  he 
should  make  frequent  and  enthusiastic  men- 
tion of  the  lad  who  was  becoming  almost  more 
than  a  son  to  him.  He  did  not  spend  much  of 
his  time  at  Deeplawn.  He  would  come  driving 
home  with  a  beaming  face  from  a  long  round  of 
preaching  in  neglected  places,  apparently  very 
glad  to  get  back  to  his  books  and  home,  stay  a 

c 


[ 


TIIK    MASTKR    OF    DKiU'LAWN 


few  days,  and  then  with  the  same  happy  look  on 
his  face  start  out  again. 

Air.  Bruce  would  unbend  on  these  occasions 
from  his  usual  dij^iiified  indifference  to  rural  mat- 
ters to  listen  to  the  old  man's  stories.  He  liad 
few  complaints  to  make,  but  seemed  to  have  a 
faculty  for  drawing  out  what  good  there  was  in 
13eople,  while  he  thought  so  little  of  liimself  in 
reference  to  his  work  that  it  was  much  the  same 
to  lii4n  whether  he  was  treated  with  honor  or  the 
reverse.  Alan  used  to  listen  to  him  with  glowing 
eyes,  while  the  heroes  of  the  older  world  seemed 
to  look  at  him  out  of  that  dim  face. 

And  so  the  days  wore  on  until  three  years  had 
gone.  During  that  time  Reginald  had  made  two 
flying  visits  home,  for  the  place  was  so  dull  that  a 
single  night  there  was  to  him  an  act  of  penance. 
Alan  never  urged  him  now  to  come,  for  he  had 
awakened  to  the  reality  :  his  brother,  who  used  to 
be  the  hero  of  his  boyhood,  now  impressed  him 
as  devoid  of  a  single  heroic  characteristic  ;  this 
discovery  had  been  a  grief  more  bitter  than  death 
to  the  high-principled  youth. 

Reginald  made  his  appearance  again  very  un- 
expectedly one  bright  June  day.  Mr.  Bruce  and 
Alan  had  planned  a  pedestrian  tour  in  the  Adiron- 
dacks,  and  Alan  was  still  boy  enough  to  be  an- 
ticipating the  trip  with  great  satisfaction.  Mr. 
Dolliver  was  at  home  for  the  first  time  when  Regi- 


ADAM   ROS5? 


35 


on 

LOUS 

uat- 
ha.l 
ve  a 
IS  in 
:lf  in 
same 
)r  the 

seined 

L-s  bad 

de  two 
that  a 
nance, 
le  had 
used  to 
d  Idni 
c  •,  this 
1  death 

•ery  un- 
uce  and 
Adiron- 
be  an- 
)U.  Mr. 
ien  Regi- 


nald was  there,  and  he  wa^  surprised  not  to  meet 
him  at  the  dinner  table,  while  he  wondered  that 
a  robust  yount;  man  should  be  so  overcome  by  a 
dav's  travel  as  to  be  compelled  to  take  his  bed. 
He  dressed  the  following-  morning;  with  unusual 
care,  for  he  had  a  little  natural  anxiety  about 
nieetiu!:;'  the  head  of  the  house,  but  to  his  surprise 
when  he  went  down  to  the  breakfast  room  he 
found  as  usual  only  Mr.  Bruce  and  Alan. 

"  Is  your  brother  sick  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  do  not  think  he  is,"  was  Alan's  brief  reply. 

The  servants  came  in  to  prayers  after  breakfast, 
and  then  each  went  about  the  day's  accustomed 
tasks,  while  Mr.  Dolliver  betook  himself  to  the 
library  with  an  anxious  mind.  He  felt  in  the 
very  atmosphere  that  there  was  trouble,  and  that 
too,  in  some  way  connected  with  Re^^inald's  home- 
coming. He  had  always  found  the  best  antidote 
for  trouble  to  be  to  aid  some  one  more  troubled. 
Mrs.  Dixon  had  mentioned  to  him  the  unhappy 
case  of  an  old  ditcher  living  near,  who  was  sick 
and  alone.  He  took  his  hat  and  cane  and  started 
out  in  the  bright  sunshine  for  old  Adam  Ross' 
cottage.  It  was  doubtful  if  he  would  be  admitted, 
since  he  had  several  times  attempted  to  get  in, 
but  had  been  always  repulsed.  Adam  Ross  hated 
nearly  everything,  and  if  he  had  any  pet  dislike 
it  was  for  ministers  of  the  gospel.  Mr.  Dolliver 
had  taken  some  nourishing  food  from  Mrs.  Dixon 


fri' 


36 


THE   MASTKR   OK   DEEI'LAWN 


ll    I 


as  a  sort  of  peace  olTcrinj^,  He  found  a  desperate 
stale  of  affairs  at  the  cottage  when  he  arrived. 

Adam  had  been  alone  for  a  d.iy  or  two  with 
scarcely  strength  to  reach  for  a  drink  of  water 
from  the  table  at  his  bedside.  Mr.  D)lliver 
knocked,  bnt  did  not  wait  for  an  invitation  to 
enter,  and  pushed  boldly  in.  The  sight  that  met 
his  view  was  a  pitiful  one  :  the  haggard  face  on 
the  pillow,  the  disordered  room,  and  swarms  of 
flies  holding  undisputed  possession  in  the  close 
atmosphere. 

"  I  thought  I  was  going  to  be  left  to  die  here 
like  a  rat  in  a  hole,"  was  the  first  querulous  greet- 


ing. 


'^  The  Lord  was  better  to  you  than  you  ex- 
pected." 

"  It's  never  much  good  I've  got  from  anybody; 
but  make  haste  and  fetch  me  some  fresh  water. 
I've  not  had  bite  nor  sup  of  anything  but  this 
drop  of  stale  water  since  day  before  yesterday." 

Mr.  DoUiver  hastened  to  the  well  and  brought 
in  a  jug  of  cold  water.  The  sick  man  took  a 
deep  draught  and  then  sank  heavily  back  on  his 
pillow.  "  That  does  taste  good,"  he  murmured, 
with  something  like  gratitude. 

"  Will  you  have  something  to  eat  now  ?  "  Mr. 
Dolliver  asked,  after  he  had  opened  door  and  win- 
dows, and  with  considerable  exertion  and  the  aid 
of  a  newspaper  lessened  the  number  of  flies. 


ADAM    ROSS 


37 


n 


"  If  I  had  anything  fit  to  eat  I  wouklii't  mind 
trying." 

The  self-appointed  nurse  wiped  a  plate  and 
emptied  the  basket ;  there  were  jellies,  cold 
chicken,  thin  slices  of  bread  and  butter,  and  otlici 
delicacies.  Adam's  face  brightened  as  he  saw  the 
good  things. 

''  Now,  if  1  had  a  cup  of  tea,  with  some  of  that 
cream  in  it,  I'd  be  quite  set  up,"  he  remarked, 
with  unwonted  amiability.  Mr.  Dolliver  kindled 
the  fire  and  set  the  tea  to  steep.  He  was  unac- 
customed to  such  efforts,  and  burned  his  fingers. 
He  did  not  mind  such  trifles,  however,  in  his 
satisfaction  at  finding  Adam  so  complacent. 
When  all  was  satisfactorily  prepared,  ^Ir.  Dolliver 
carried  the  food  to  the  sick  man. 

"  I'm  not  a  beggar,  that  folks  need  to  send 
victuals  to  me.  No  doubt  you  begged  them  for 
me,"  Adam  grumbled. 

^"  They  will  taste  just  as  good  as  if  your  own 
money  bought  them,  or  as  if  you  had  created  them 
yourself  and  not  been  beholden  to  the  Lord  for 
these  things  and  everything  else  you  have  ever 
had."  Adam  winced  at  that,  for  it  had  ever  been 
his  boast  that  he  was  never  indebted  to  any  one 
for  what  he  had. 

When  he  had  finished  his  breakfast  he  lay  down 
wearily  and  closing  his  eyes,  said:  *'Now  you'll 
be  wanting  to  pray  after  all  you've  done  for  me, 


i-v' 


38 


THE  MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


Si 

I 


ii'.; 


and  I  won't  be  so  uiiiieigliborly  as  to  shut  your 
mouth." 

My.  Dollivcr  took  no  notice  of  the  remark,  but 
be;^an  to  clean  the  untidy  room,  the  keen  eyes 
o])jnin'^  and  watchins^  him  half-fiercelv  from  the 
bed.  W.ien  the  work  wa-i  done  to  his  satisfaction 
he  took  a  cliair  to  rest,  meanwhile  lookin*;- around 
triumplianlly  at  his  housekeeping-  exploits. 

"I  never  kuL'W  that  women's  work  was  so 
hard,"  he  remarked,  wiping  the  great  beads  of 
perspiration  from  his  face.  "  It  always  looked 
ea-;y,  to  watch  them  at  it;  mv  dear  wife  would 
have  done  this  work  In  haif  the  time  it  took  me, 
and  kept  her  flice  dry  into  the  bargain.  Women 
are  a  wonderful  gift  to  men,"  he  added,  re- 
flectively. 

"  I  alwa}s  kept  clear  of  women  folks  ;  it  didn't 
seem  fair  for  me  to  have  to  support  another  man's 
daughter." 

"  That  is  just  where  we  dilTered  ;  it  did  not 
seem  honest  to  take  a  young  w^oman  just  when 
she  was  of  an  age  to  be  useful  to  her  parents  and 
have  her  all  to  yourself,  not  giving  anything  in 
return.  I  used  to  think  the  savage  nations  had 
truer  ideas  of  honesty  in  the  matter  than  civilized 
people." 

Adam  turned  uneasily  in  bed,  and  for  the  first 
time  it  occurred  to  him  that  he  might  have  nuide 
some   mistakes   in   life   it   was   now  too  late   to 


I     r. 


I 


ADAM    ROSS 


39 


not 
,-lien 
and 
tr  in 
had 


fn-st 
nade 
e    to 


recti  f\'.  He  wished  the  minister  wonld  pray,  for 
he  had  an  idea  it  would  lessen  his  oblii^-ation. 
Ministers,  he  had  been  accustomed  to  think,  were 
very  thankful  for  an  opportunity  to  pray  with 
f(jlks ;  and  yet  he  did  not  like  to  make  the  request 
auain,  for  it  seemed  too  much  like  dvimr  for  him 
to  be  too  anxious  about  such  matters.  Mr.  I)ol- 
liver  sat  chattiu^:^  with  him,  while  several  times 
Adam  felt  an  uncomfortable  moisture  cominj^  into 
his  eyes,  and  every  time  his  visitor  arose  to  drive 
out  the  flies  he  sei/eil  the  opportunity  to  make 
use  of  a  corner  of  the  quilt  for  a  pocket-handker- 
chief. He  wondered  too,  why  the  old  man  stayed 
so  loni;  when  apparently  he  had  no  idea  of  con- 
verting- liini.     At  last  Air.  DolHver  arose  to  o^o. 

"  It  is  nearly  time  for  luncheon  up  at  the  house. 
Youu!^-  Air.  Re<;inald  is  at  home  and  I  am  anxious 
to  meet  him." 

''As  far  as  I  can  make  out,  he's  a  poor  lot," 
Adam  declared,  his  face  brightening;-  at  the  ])ros- 
pect  of  a  bit  of  <;ossip.  "  The  yourn^-  chap  is 
worth  past  count  of  him."  The  grieved  look  on 
the  minister's  face  surprised  him  ;  why  he  should 
be  so  affected  by  the  shortcoming  of  another  was 
quite  beyond  his  comprehension. 

''One  never  can  believe  these  flying  rumors, 
especially  about  the  rich,  lor  people  are  apt  to 
envy  them." 

"  You  can  believe  what  I'm  telling  vou.     I  don't 


l!!l 


40 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


run  the  risk  of  saying  wliat  I  don't  know,  for 
truth,  and  getting  myself  fetched  up  for  libel, 
only  when  I'm  certain  of  it,"  Adam  said,  defen- 
sively. 

Mr.  Dolliver  turned  the  conversation  abruptly, 
promising  to  come  down  again  after  luncheon 
with  some  medicine  and  beef  tea. 

"I  have  done  a  good  deal  of  doctoring  in  my 
time,"  he  remarked,  by  way  of  recommending 
himself;  ''I  have  tried  to  save  poor  people's 
pockets  as  well  as  their  lives  in  that  way." 

"  I  guess  you  are  pretty  good,  if  you  are  a 
preacher,"  Adam  acknowledged,  thereby  making 
a  concession  which,  if  Mr.  Dolliver  had  known 
him  better,  would  have  sent  him  on  his  way  re- 
joicing. 

Adam  Ross  did  not  die  under  IMr.  Dolliver's 
treatment  and  nursing.  With  the  aid  of  a  line  con- 
stitution, he  came  around  as  well  as  ever,  and  not 
his  bodily  health  alone  was  benefited.  vSoon 
another  sitting  was  taken  in  the  little  church,  and 
after  that  Mr.  Dolliver  had  no  firmer  friend  at 
Deeplawn  than  Adam  Ross,  the  ditcher. 


f 


CHAPTER  V 


a 


REAPING  THE  WHIRLWIND 

AT  luiiclieon  ■Mr.  DoUiver  was  presented  to 
Reginald.  A  cold  bow  was  _is  only  re- 
sponse to  his  offers  of  friendliness,  while  Mr.  Bruce 
sat  in  dignified  silence.  Reginald  sat  creasing  his 
napkin  and,  with  a  manner  that  strnck  the  old 
man  as  sullen,  refused  to  take  anything  on  the 
table.  Near  the  close  of  the  meal  he  gave  a  low- 
spoken  order  to  the  servant  which  Alan  immedi- 
ately countermanded. 

"  Do  you  think  you  are  the  only  master  here?" 
Reginald  asked  hotly. 

''I  am,  in  some  matters." 

Mr.  Dolliver  could  scarcely  believe  it  was  Alan's 
voice  that  uttered  the  words,  for  he  had  never 
heard  him  speak  with  such  authority  to  the  low- 
est servant  on  the  place.  They  arose  from  the 
table  in  silence  and  Reginald  turned  to  ]\Ir.  Bruce, 
saying  haughtily : 

"  I  should  like  a  few  words  with  you  and  mv 
brother  in  the  library."  :\Ir.  Bruce  bowed  his  as- 
sent and  the  three  left  the  room. 

"  Isn't  it  a  pity,  sir,  to  see  a  fine  young  man 
like  that  going  to  the  bad?"  the  maid  who  had 

41 


i 


II 


•'J 


42  THE  MAvSTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

W-iited  on  them  at  table  asked  respectfully.  "Did 
vou  see  he  never  tasted  a  bite  of  dinner  and  he 
bid  nie  fetch  him  the  brandy,  but  Mr.  Alan  forbid 
nie  ;  he's  a  wonderful  youn<^  man,  and  Mr.  Ret^i- 
nald  is  afraid  of  him,  for  all  he  puts  on  such  a  bold 
front." 

Mr.  Dolliver  left  the  room  hastily.  The  day 
was  proving  to  be  one  of  the  most  trying  in  his 
experience. 

"  It  is  not  my  world,  but  God's,"  he  murmured 
at  last,  after  some  hours  of  painful  thinking-  in  his 
own  room.  "  He  loves  and  pities  men  far  more 
than  we  can  do,  and  I  am  sure  that  some  day  right 
will  triumph.'' 

When  the  dinner  bell  rang  he  went  down  re- 
luctantly, for  he  fancied  his  presence  was  distaste- 
ful to  Reginald,  while  there  came  into  his  heart 
a  longing  for  that  home  where  his  loved  and  lost 
were  waiting  for  him.  But  perhaps  there  was 
still  some  work  for  him  to  do  before  he  left  the 
world  or,  sadder  thought,  he  might  not  himself  be 
ready  to  enter  that  sinless  world. 

Alan's  face  wore  a  sadder  expression  than  ]\Ir. 
Dolliver  had  ever  seen  upon  it  before.  Later  on 
the  good  man  learned  that  there  had  been  a  stormy 
interview  that  afternoon  in  the  library.  Reginald 
had  come  to  Deeplawn  prepared  to  take  strong 
measures  with  his  brother  to  secure  his  own  pur- 
poses, but  he  found  to  his  chagrin  that  he  had 


Jj 


RKAPINCr   THB:   whirlwind 


43 


something  harder  than  he  anticipated  in  bending 
the  lad's  will.  As  he  looked  in  his  brother's  lace 
oppo.^ite  him  at  the  table  an  expression  uf  bitter 
liatred  convnlsed  the  once  handsome  features. 
He  had  staked  his  last  dollar  and  was  now  p.  nni- 
les-^,  save  for  the  joint  ownership  of  Deeplawn, 
which  he  conld  not  touch  without  Alan's  consent, 
and  even  then  the  estate  could  not  be  disponed  of 
until  Alan  came  of  age;  but  the  house  could  be 
shut,  all  the  servants  and  farm  hands  discharged, 
and  the  place  rented  for  a  term  of  years  while 
Alan  was  at  college.  The  interview  ended  witli- 
ont  getting  the  promise  of  a  single  dollar,  save  the 
money  to  pay  a  comrade  who  had  loaned  Reginald 
sufhcient  to  bring  him  to  Deeplawn.  j\Ir.  Bruce 
had  been  amazed  at  Alan's  self-restraint  under  his 
brother's  cruel  tannts,  accusing  him  of  seliishness 
and  lack  of  natural  affection,  and  sneers  at  Chris- 
tians generally  and  himself  in  particular.  Alan 
turned  on  him  at  last,  his  face  white  with  the  re- 
straint of  controlled  passion  : 

"  I  would  give  every  dollar  I  am  worth,  and  you 
know  it.  Rex,  if  it  would  make  you  an  honest, 
temperate  man.  But  I  shall  not  give  a  cent  to 
keep  you  in  your  present  condition." 

lyosing  all  control  of  himself,  Reginald  struck 
ont  fiercely  at  Alan,  but  i\Ir.  Bruce  thrust  him 
aside,  somewhat  breaking  the  force  of  the  blow ; 
but  the  lad's  shonlder  was  lame  for  weeks. 


44 


THE   MAvSTER   OF   DEEPLAWN 


^ 


.!' 


*i 


"  Will  you  promise  never  to  repeat  that  of- 
Lii.se  ?  " 

Reginald  cowered  at  the  blaze  of  wrath  in  his 
brother's  eyes,  but  made  no  repl\-. 

'^  Oh,  Rex,  what  will  you  become,  if  you  go  on 
like  this  !  "  the  younger  brother  added.  His  anger 
died  out  and  only  pity  and  a  supreme  desire  to 
save  his  brother  at  whatever  cost,  filled  his  heart. 
As  he  stood  looking  at  the  marred  face,  a  conver- 
sation with  Mrs.  Dixon  some  moiiths  before  came 
vividly  to  his  remembrance.  She  laid  all  the 
blame  of  Reginald's  ruined  life  on  the  university 
wliere  he  had  gone  at  eighteen  years  of  age.  "Be- 
fore that,"  she  had  said,  "  he  was  as  good  a  boy  as 
one  could  wish  to  live  with  ;  he  scarcely  knew  the 
taste  of  liquor,  and  as  for  cards,  he  cared  nothing 
for  them,  but  said  they  were  only  fit  to  pass  away 
the  time  of  feeble-minded  men  and  women  ;  but 
the  next  year  when  he  came  home  I  s  iw  a  great 
change  in  him,  his  clothes  smelled  scandalously 
of  tobacco,  and  when  I  unpacked  his  trunk  I 
found  several  packs  of  cards,  some  with  gilt  edges 
that  he  had  when  he  went  to  parties,  and  others 
that  were  a  sight  more  worn  than  the  books  that  he 
studied  out  of.  I  didn't  tell  your  father  for  he  was 
very  stern  and  Reginald  begged  me  not  to  betray 
him.  Before  he  came  back  the  next  year  your 
father  had  met  with  the  accident  that  so  soon 
ended  his  life,  and  after  that  there  was  nobody  I 


I 


l!' 


■ 


REAPING  THE  WHIRLWIND 


45 


could  err,  to.  I've  thought  a  hunlred  times  th  it 
if  I  was  rich  I'd  hesitate  long  before  I  would  send 
a  boy  to  college,  but  perhaps  tiiey  are  not  all 
alike." 

"  Most  of  the  young  men  who  go  to  college  are 
not  ruined,"  Alan  had  returned,  "and  those  who 
are  would  nios:  likely  fall  anyway." 

"  I  asked  him  once  if  they  all  did  like  him,  and 
he  said  there  were  some  'muffs'  wiio  did  nothiiicr 

o 

but  study,  and  they  were  a  dry  lot." 

"  They  are  the  ones  that  take  care  of  our 
world." 

"  I  expect  so.  I  asked  him  if  the  teachers 
didn't  look  after  them.  He  said,  of  course  they 
did  ;  gave  them  lectures  ever  so  many  times  a 
week  and  examined  their  papers ;  but  I  concluded 
if  they'd  given  them  some  thrashings,  and  exam- 
ined their  morals,  'twould  have  been  better.  Seems 
to  me  if  women  had  the  care  of  colleges  they'd 
look  after  the  young  folks  better  than  the  perfes- 
sors,  as  he  calls  the  schoolmasters.  I  always  had 
a  good  opinion  mostly  of  perfessors,  but  I've  lost 
all  conceit  of  that  kind." 

*'  Your  loss  is  small  compared  with  theirs." 

"I've  always  advised  him  on  no  account  to  let 
you  go  to  such  wicked  places,  but  I  don't  think 
they'd  hurt  you  any  now." 

Alan  had  received  Mrs.  Dixon's  compliment 
with  a  sober  face.    She  soon  interrupted  the  pain- 


^  , 


u 


46 


thp:  master  of  dkrplawn 


I 

'  it 


« 


I 

i 

* 

' 

'.         V 

■■ 

1 

1 

i 

1 

i 

1 

fill  reverie  into  which  he  had  fallen  by  sayinj^^: 
"It  seems  curious  that  they  don't  take  waruing 
from  each  other  ;  lie  told  me  once  that  there  were 
those  who  weut  to  the  bad  every  year,  or  if  they 
graduated,  were  dependent  on  their  rich  relations. 
I  know  things  might  be  regulated  better.  There 
was  a  time  when  prisoners  and  slaves  and  such 
like  were  looked  after,  but  rich  men's  sous  go  to 
the  bad  without  anybody  noticing." 

Alan  assured  her  they  were  not  such  a  ne- 
glected class  as  she  supposed. 

"  Well,  there's  a  screw  loose  somewhere.  I'm 
only  an  ignorant  woman,  I  never  parsed  a  sentence 
of  grammar  in  my  life,  but  there's  things  we  can 
find  out  without  grammar.  Why,  I've  thought 
as  I  looked  over  your  brother's  things,  and  made 
out  as  well  as  I  could,  his  bills  and  '  billy  duxes,' 
for  I  made  it  a  p'int  to  read  every  scrap  of 
writing  I  could  make  out,  though  I  never  let  on 
to  him — as  I  say,  I've  thought  time  and  again, 
before  I'd  leave  a  pile  of  money  to  my  children, 
I'd  give  it  all  away  to  some  good  object,  the 
heathen  or  something  of  that  kind." 

As  this  conversation  came  vividly  to  his  mind 
Alan  felt  a  great  wave  of  pity  for  the  brother  v.dio 
once  was  so  tender  and  true,  but  had  been  stolen 
from  him  by  evil  associates.  To  Reginald's 
consternation  he  went  to  his  side,  and  taking  the 
hand   that   had   struck   at   him  a  few  moments 


A 


REAPING   TIIK   WHIRLWIND 


47 


bjforc  he  said  :   "  Won't  you  turn  over  a  new  leaf 
even  yet,  Rex?  God  will  help  you." 

The  only  answer  was  a  muttered  oath  as  he 
bade  him  keep  his  cant  to  himself.  Alan  turned 
away  hopelessly,  while  he  too  muttered:  "That 
will  not  be  all  that  I  shall  keep." 

A  moment  after  he  went  to  the  table  and  wrote 
a  few  lines,  handing  the  paper  to  Reginald  ;  a 
gleam  of  fierce  hatred  shot  from  his  eyes  as  he 
scanned  the  paper,  then  he  turned  hastily  and  left 
the  room. 

"  I  shall  make  my  will  at  once,  or  is  the  will  of 
a  minor  legal?  " 

"I  am  afraid  not,"  was  Mr.  Bruce's  reply. 

''  Is  there  no  way  I  can  dispose  of  my  property 
in  case  of  death?" 

"  It  is  doubtful  if  there  is." 

"Then  law  sadly  needs  reforming.  I  should 
like  every  contingency  provided  for."  j\Ir.  Bruce 
understood  his  meaning;  the  same  hand  that  had 
dealt  the  blow  might  not  fail  in  its  next  attempt. 

"  I  am  not  versed  in  legal  lore,  but  I  think  \ou 
might  do  this:  make  a  will  bequeathing  what 
you  possess  to  your  brother,  but  appoint  ad 
ministrators,  allowing  him  only  a  certain  sum 
yearly;  you  could  stipulate  any  amount  you 
thought  safe." 

"I  shall  go  into  the  city  at  once,  to-morrow, 
for  everything  shall,  if  possible,  be  settled.     After 


. 


48 


THE    MASTER   OK   DI'l'.PI.AWN 


! 


:> 


I  1 


that  I  shall  have  one  care  less,  but  I  would  like 
to  live  lonj^er."  Pie  glanced  through  the  open 
window  to  the  fields  and  hills  he  had  looked  at 
from  childhood,  never  with  such  a  heavy  heart  as 
at  that  inonicnt. 

"  You  might  pacify  your  brother  by  giving  him 
a  generous  allowance.  You  will  even  then  have 
more  than  you  are  in  the  habit  of  spending  from 
your  vearlv  income." 

"  ]\Ioney  is  not  the  question.  If  I  had  an  in- 
come of  millions  I  would  not  do  it.  What  I  want 
is  to  save  him.  This  man,  you  see,  is  not  my 
brother,  but  a  ruin — alcohol  and  sin  combined, 
with  some  small  shred  of  manhood  remaining, 
perhaps.  I  \v\\\  keep  him  here,  and  if  possible 
save  him.  You  will  not  leave  me  until  I  have 
learned  what  you  can  teach,  if  I  ever  can." 

j\Ir.  Bruce  knew  the  sacrifice  was  vastly  greater 
than  any  pecuniary  one  could  be  that  he  might 
make  for  his  brother ;  not  only  the  pedestrian 
excursion  they  were  to  have  taken  during  the 
holidays  but  after  that  the  college  course,  a  very 
wdde  one,  of  which  he  had  alreadv  elected  the 
studies,  and  which  would  take  six  or  eight  years 
to  complete,  must  be  relinquished.  INIany  a  talk 
had  they  indulged  in  on  the  sul:)ject  as  they 
trudged  together  on  their  long  holidav  excursions, 
for  Alan  had  been  a  firm  believer  in  the  wisdom 
of  the  old  philosophers  who  taught  their  pupils  in 


$   ' 


Ki     I 


REAPING   TIIK   WiriRUvrXD 


49 


the  open  air.  He  was  dcteriiiinea  to  imitate 
those  heroic  sagcs  who  despised  luxurious  livin- 
but  thouglit  nobly.  The  result  was  that  at 
eighteen  he  could  stand  the  strain  of  severe  study 
or  pliysical  exertion  tliat  few  at  twentv-five  could 
endure.  In  size  and  strenoth  he  was  now  more 
than  a  match  for  his  brother,  thanks  to  a  pure 
mind  in  a  \vell-trained  body. 

He  left  the  house  without  speaking  to  any  one, 
for  he  had  an  instinctive  feeling  that  what  lie  was 
anxious  to  do   must  be  done   quicklv,   if  at  all. 
Mr.  Dolliver  went  to  Alan's  room  that  afternoon,' 
for  he  ielt  anxious  about  his  bov  and  made,  as  an 
excuse  for  his  visit,  the  need  of  having  something 
done  for  old  Adam.     The  door  was  slightlv  ajar 
and  as  he  glanced  in,  he  was  surprised  to  see  Rc<.-- 
iiiald  standing  by  the  dressing  table  with  a  small 
vial  and  glass  in  his  hand.     He  heard  the  door 
move  and  glancing  fiercely  around  ordered   Ur. 
Dolliver   from    the   room— a    command   the   old 
gentleman  obeyed  very  promptly;  but  he  went 
at  once  in  search  of  Mr.  Bruce,  for  something  in 
Reginald's  manner  made  him    feel    aiixions^for 
Alan's  safety.    When  he  made  his  communication 
he  was  surprised  at  the  very  grave  look  in  the 
tutor's  face. 

"I  will  see  what  he  has  been  about  as  soon  ns 
I  am  certain  he  has  gone  to  his  own  room.  To- 
morrow you  will  probably  know  ever\-tliincr  '> 


j  ■ 


I 


50 


THE   MASTlvR   OK    DlC KI'I.AWN 


After  dinner  Mr.  DolHver  was  sitting;'  in  his 
own  room,  when  a  tap  at  the  door  disturbed  tlie 
reverie  into  which  he  had  fallen.  He  thouoht  at 
once  of  Rej^inald,  but  opened  the  door  to  admit 
whomever  it  mi.i^ht  be.  To  his  relief  Mr.  Ih'uce 
stood  before  him,  but  with  such  a  grave,  pale  face 
that  he  started  back  in  alarm. 

"  Is  somethim>-  wromi:  with  the  lad  ?  "  he  asked. 

IVIr.  Bruce  entered  and,  closing  the  door,  re- 
plied :  ''I  have  found  poisoned  water  in  Alan's 
room  ;  it  was  poured  from  the  bottle  you  saw  in 
Reginald's  hand." 

"  x\re  you  sure  it  was  poison  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  submitted  it  to  a  careful  analysis  ; 
it  is  a  most  powerful  and  deadly  poison.  You 
will  be  willing  to  testify  that  you  saw  Reginald 
by  the  table  with  a  bottle  and  tumbler?" 

"  Certainly."  The  old  man's  nerves  were  ter- 
ribly shaken,  but  he  kept  himself  under  ri,;id 
control. 

"  We  shall  have  evidence  now  to  put  him  where 
he  will  not  attempt  such  a  crime  again." 

"  In  prison?  " 

"  It  will  be  useless  to  mention  that  to  Alan ; 
but,  fortunately,  there  are  asylums  where  such 
persons  can  be  placed.  A  term  of  confinement 
may  be  the  best  possible  discipline  for  him." 

^'  I  doubt  if  Alan  will  consent  even  to  that 
mucn  punishment  for  his  wayward  brother." 


I" 


isk. 


RKAPING   TIIK   WHIRUVIND 


51 


an ; 

ucli 

lieiit 

:hat 


''Fortunately  it  will  be  beyond  his  power  to 
pievcnt  it.  I  am  i^oini;-  to  follow  liiin  at  once  to 
the  city.  I  shall  get  a  couple  of  the  tenants  to 
stay  here  for  the  ni<.'lit,  as  I  feel  certain  Reginald 
is  insane." 

Mr.  Ihuce  returned  a  little  later  with  two  stal- 
wart farmers,  but  he  had  not  been  ,i;one  fn)m  the 
house  very  long  when  the  watchers  had  t  nou'^h 
to  do  at  times  to  keep  Reginald  in  his  room. 
Some  one  suggested  that  il  was  delirium  tremens, 
but  Michael  Flynn  remarked  that  he  had  .seen  too 
many  cases  of  the  doldrums  to  be  mistaken.  Rt  gi- 
nald's  one  desire  seemed  to  be  to  make  away  with 
his  brother  and  get  possession  of  his  property. 

]\Ir.  Dolliver  shrank  back  appalled  at  times. 
IMichael  Flynn  interposed  :  ''You  are  too  ould  a 
man  to  be  losin'  yerslape;  besides  it's  no  place 
for  the  loiks  nv  yon  to  be  listenin'  to  the  oaths 
and  curses.  Tm  used  to  'em  meself,  for  I  was  in 
a  tavern  for  years  afore  I  cum  here ;  it  .seems  like 
ould  times  to  be  a-listenin'  to  the  remarks  av  tlie 
poor  Cray  then" 

"  You  must  be  very  thankful  for  the  change," 
was  Mr.  Dolliver's  response  ;  and  he  followed  it  up 
with  some  words  that  Michael  never  forgot. 

After  a  while  Air.  Dolliver  left  the  room,  when 
Michael  became  unusual Iv  thomihtful.  ''It  was 
no  manner  av  use  for  me  to  be  talkin'  wid  the 
ould  gintleman;  the  clargy,  av  course,  can  talk 


I' 

i 


;  I 


i 


52 


TIIIC  MASTER  OF  DKEPI.AWN 


better  nor  the  loikes  av  us,  but  he  do  be  sayin' 
very  unsettlin'  things.  'Twouhl  be  a  good  thing  if 
a  poor  sowl  was  sure  what  was  the  thrue  faith ; 
heretics  do  seem  to  have  more  luck  nor  us. 
'Twould  be  too  bad  if  they  made  out  better  for 
botli  worlds." 

"  ]\Iaybe  we'd  better  stick  to  our  owni  faith,  we 
can't  be  sure,  auyway,"  his  mate  said,  slowly.  He 
was  an  eas\-going  creature  not  given  to  perplex- 
ing speculations  about  anything. 

Reginald  was  "rowing  restless  a-'ain,  and  soon 
all  theological  problems  were  driven  from  their 
thoughts  by  the  question  how  they  were  to  con- 
trol the  man  whom  they  were  set  to  watch. 

When  Alan  and  j\Ir.  Bruce  reached  home  the 
next  day,  steps  were  immediately  taken  to  place 
Reginald  under  the  care  of  medical  experts.  Alan 
would  feel  less  anxiety  about  his  brother  while 
confined  in  an  asylum  than  he  had  done  for  many  a 
month  before.  He  cherished  the  hope  that  rea- 
son might  be  restored  after  the  system  had  under- 
gone such  a  change  that  the  craving  for  liquor 
might  possibly  be  removed. 


Tl 


i1 


CHAPTER  VI 

NEWFOUNDLAND 

TN  planning  their  pedestrian  tour  Alan  was 
J-  eager  to  go  out  of  the  beaten  tracks  and 
to  get  in  touch  with  elementary  things.  For 
a  while  every  place  suggested  by  IMr.  Bruce  pre- 
sented some  drawback,  the  greatest  in  every  case 
being  the  probability  of  meeting  the  tourists  who  ' 
were  going  over  the  same  ground. 

Attersome  v/eeks  Newfoundland  was  sue^ested, 
with  a  possible  trip  to  Labrador  in  case  the  for- 
mer should  not  be  solitary  enough.  Alan  was 
delighted  with  the  proposition,  stipulating  for  an 
Indian  who  could  guide  them  through  those  in- 
land solitudes,  where  they  could  enjoy  ar.  abo- 
riginal a  style  of  living  as  is  possible  in  this  age 
of  steam  and  electricity.  He  was  quite  indiffer- 
ent about  the  commissariat  department,  permit- 
ting IMr.  Bruce  to  order  whatever  supplies  he  him- 
self desired,  for  he  expected  to  furnish  himself,  by 
gun  and  rod,  with  all  the  fish,  flesh,  and  fowl  that 
he  desired,  without  any  dependence  upon  the 
doubtful  contents  of  the  tin  can<.  He  took  very 
lew  books,  for  he  remembered  that  the  old  Chal- 
dean and  Greek  poets  were  not  cumbered  with 

53 


I 


54 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


I 


H 


\l 


i 


' 


their  scrolls  when  they  journeyed  through  primi- 
tive forests  with  no  other  guide-marks  than  the 
stars. 

The  travelers  reached  St.  John's  early  in  July. 
The  trip  itself  had  been  positive  rapture  to  Alan, 
as  it  was,  in  the  first  place,  such  a  relief  to  get 
away  from  the  haunting  memories  of  Deeplawu, 
and  too,  it  was  his  initial  experience  of  the  ocean. 

In  a  wliile  he  was  strongly  tempted  to  give  up 
his  college  course  and  make  his  home  on  the  sea, 
for  workers  were  needed  there  as  much  as  in  uni- 
versitv  chairs. 

After  making  all  necessary  purchases  at  St. 
John's  andsecuring  the  services  of  a  trusty  guide, 
they  jubilantly  started  on  a  sailing  packet  for  the 
north.  Alan  certainly  found  matters  primitive 
enouirh  when  he  swung  in  his  hamuiock  in  the 
cabin,  or  sat  at  a  table  innocent  alike  of  paint  or 
linen,  and  ate  his  dinner  off  the  cheapest  earthen- 
ware and  drank  a  wretchedly  poor  qnality  of  tea 
from  a  yellow  bowl.  The  codfish  and  halibut, 
however,  were  fresh,  the  pork  scraps  were  sweet, 
the  potatoes  that  came  to  tne  table  in  their  jack- 
ets were  white  and  mealy,  and  the  sea  biscuits 
comparatively  fresh  ;  besides  he  was  not  tempted 
to  eat  after  his  hiniger  had  been  appeased,  which 
was  a  gain  over  a  higher  civilization. 

The  wind  was  fair  and  they  bounded  ahmg 
cheerily.     The  sailors,  who  were  also  fishermen, 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


55 


were  very  anxious  to  make  the  voyage  agreeable 
to  the  travelers.  The  slight  difference  between 
officers  and  men  existed  only  in  name,  for  no  one 
of  them  could  either  read  or  write.  Mr.  Bruce 
frequently  assured  them  he  would  be  much  better 
pleased  either  to  have  them  keep  in  sight  of  land, 
or  submit  the  navigation  of  the  ship  to  him — a 
proposition  which  the  skipper,  notwithstanding 
his  desire  to  please  the  gentlemen,  received  very 
dubiously. 

They  reached  Bonavista,  however,  in  safety, 
and  there  took  leave  of  the  crew,  and  the  follow- 
ing day,  with  Gabe,  their  Indian  guide,  started 
inland  with  their  canoes  and  stores.  Gabe  was 
n')t  very  certain  about  his  name.  He  knew  that 
it  had  been  suggested  by  the  priest  at  his  christen- 
ing, Init,  unfortunately,  his  mother  had  forgotten 
tiie  rest,  if  there  had  been  any  more.  He  was, 
however,  very  certain  that  he  had  been  named  for 
some  one  in  the  heavenly  places,  and  he  was  per- 
fectly content  with  the  cognomen,  believing  that 
if  it  were  good  enough  for  use  there,  it  must  be 
also  for  him.  The  man  proved  an  interesting 
problem  to  Alan.  He  was  quick  in  motion,  sharp 
in  vision  and  was,  like  his  race,  laconic;  not  be- 
cause his  vocabulary  was  limited,  but  that  he  dis- 
liked to  talk  ;  but  what  he  may  have  lacked  in 
speech  he  more  than  made  up  in  more  valuable 
qualities,  closeness  of  observation,  a  capacity  to 


1 


1 


'1     ■; 


56 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEKPLAWN 


marshal  all  his  forces  at  a  second's  notice,  nerves 
of  steel,  and  a  courage  that  never  wavered 
under  most  exciting  or  dangerous  circumstances. 
Alan  at  once  began  to  study  this  son  of  the  forest, 
wondering  :f  he  did  not  resemble  those  men  of 
the  older  world  who,  like  him,  were  untrained  in 
the  schools,  but  whose  faculties  were  developed  in 
other  ways.  Ivike  them,  he  studied  the  heavens, 
read  the  signs  of  a  coming  storm  long  before  the 
two  representatives  of  a  higher  civilization  could 
see  any  trace  of  nature  mustering  her  forces  to 
work  them  inconvenience,  while  it  was  impossible 
to  puzzle  him  as  to  their  whereabouts,  as  long  as 
the  sun  or  stars  were  visible.  Pie  appeared  to  be 
well  acquainted  with  the  habits  of  every  feathered 
inhabitant  of  the  forest,  and  his  knowledge  of 
other  woodland  life  was  equally  extensive. 

One  day,  as  Alan  sat  with  Mr.  I>ruce  by  an  in- 
land stream  fighting  black  flies  and  pulling  up 
from  the  brown  depths  splendid  trout,  he  said  : 

"  Gabe  is  just  as  profound  a  student  as  any  of 


us 


)) 


"  How  do  you  make  that  out  ?  " 

"  We  have  studied  from  books  and  have  assimi- 
lated, for  the  most  part,  other  men's  thoughts,  while 
he  has  gone  direct  to  nature  and  there  studied  God's 
thoughts,  which  have  given  him  a  Treshness  that 
most  of  us  lack.  He  is  a  real  man  ;  there  is  the 
stuff  in  him  out  of  which  a  score  of  dudes  could 


'1 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


57 


i 


be  transformed  into  average  men,  with  all  the 
m.uilincss  they  could  stand  and  still  r^itain  their 
'  butterfly '  proclivities." 

''  You  are  hard  on  the  poor  fellows." 

''I  have  cause  to  be.  If  Rex  had  been  with 
G:ibe  six  months  of  the  year  out  in  these  whole- 
some solitudes,  he  would  not  be  wher'^  he  is  now." 
It  was  the  first  time  Alan  had  spoken  of  liis 
brother  since  the  day  they  had  carried  him  from 
Deeplawn,  and  the  bitterness  with  which  he  spoke 
proved  that  the  wound  had  not  yet  healed. 

"  There  seems  to  be  a  law  of  compensation  run- 
ning- through  life.  Those  on  the  lowest  rounds  of 
the  social  ladder,  like  Gabe,  who  scarcely  realize 
that  they  are  made  out  of  the  same  material  as 
their  rulers,  have  joys,  and  very  keen  ones  too, 
that  their  superiors  know  nothing  about." 

"Gabe  certainly  has,"  Alan  asserted  witli  de- 
cision. "  I  have  seen  his  nostrils  dilate  and  his 
eyes  flash  with  a  very  superior  kind  of  compla- 
cency as  he  steered  us  skillfully  through  the  rapids, 
or  brought  down  a  bird  as  it  sailed  heedlessly 
through  the  blue — a  feat  of  skill,  by  the  wa\-, 
which  few  of  our  prize  marksmen  could  perform, 
and  showing  the  steady  nerve  and  perfect  vision 
of  the  man." 

"That  is  mere  physical  prowess,"  Mr.  Bruce 
remarked. 

"  It  only  goes  to  prove,  however,  that  he  has 


M 


58 


THE   lIASTIiR  OF   DEEI'LAWN 


I 


I  i  ^ 


u 


tlic  ability  our  university  crews  hold  as  liigli,  I 
fancy,  as  they  do  intellectual  power.  Besides, 
Gabe  has  other  skill  than  that  of  mere  nerve  and 
vision." 

"  You  do  not  meditate  reverting  to  an  aburigiual 
state,  I  hope." 

"Not  quite,"  was  the  reply.  "  But  it  is  suptrb, 
this  getting  away  from  men  and  towns.  I  did 
not  think  I  could  ever  be  so  light-hearted  again  ; 
and  even  now  I  get  almost  ashamed  of  myself 
that  I  seem  to  forget  where  Rex  is  and  what  he 
is.  But  the  world  does  seem  so  free  and  i^ure  out 
here  that  it  makes  me  forget  the  wrecks.  If  I 
could  only  get  Rex  out  here  with  Gabe. 

"  I  have  talked  with  him  about  it  and  he  says 
he  wouhl  not  be  afraid  to  spend  a  sunnner  with 
him  in  the  woods.  He  says  too,  that  there  is 
nothing  like  the  smell  of  the  earth  where  men's 
feet  have  never  trod  to  bring  one  back  to  health 
of  body  as  well  as  mind." 

"  You  must  remember  that  Gabe  is  still  very 
mucli  of  a  savage,  with  all  the  fascination  of  un- 
trodden places  strong  upon  hiui.  We  miy 
apostrophize  this  sort  of  life  and  nature's  untrained 
energy,  and  it  is  all  very  well  to  come  back  to 
such  primitive  ways  for  a  few  weeks  out  ot  the 
year,  but  civilization  is  incomparably  superior." 

*'  What  has  civilization  done  for  Rex?" 

"  We    must    not  judge   the   whole   by   a    few 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


59 


extreme  cases.  There  are  (Iniiikeii  Indians  as 
degraded  as  the  worst  specimens  of  civilization." 
"Would  there  liave  been  had  they  not  lirst 
come  in  contact  with  ns?  Give  these  primitive 
races  our  reHgion  and  everythinc^  that  elevates 
us,  keeping  from  them  our  vices — what  then  ?  " 

"  Do  the  same  for  our  white  races  and  I  believe 
you  would  develop  a  finer  t\pe.  It  is  no  use, 
however,  for  there  can  in  this  world  be  only  in- 
dividual excellence  ;  the  tares  and  wheat  must 
grow  togetlier  till  the  final  harvest,  and  each  is  at 
liberty  to  elect  which  he  will  be.  I  do  not  doubt, 
however,  that  this  fact  will  greatly  increase  the 
reward  of  those  who  receive  their  :\Iakcr's  ap- 
proval at  the  final  adjustment  of  rewards." 

"The  true  Christian  does  not  work  for  reward, 
here  or  hereafter,"  Alan  said  softly. 

"There  are  not  many,  I  fear,  of  that  variety; 
but  it  strikes  me  tint  you  have  the  making  of 
such  a  one.  Though  I  am  your  teacher,  I  must 
confess  to  you  that  s'ou  have  caused  me  more  con- 
science pricks  than  the  parsons  ever  did.  I  can 
listen  calmly  to  preaching — we  are  u-cd  to  that; 
bit  you  have  lived,  and  I  have  watched  \on 
closely.  Possibly  I  may  f)rgct  all  th.-.e  impres- 
sions when  we  arc  separated,  or  I  ma\'  become 
one  of  your  s  )rt.  I  am  just  now  mucu  like  a 
cuip  on  the  tide,  carried  whichever  way  the 
current  wills." 


6o 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


!'! 


m4 


1 1 


kl 
11  i 


"  You  can  never  be  that ,  fate  is  an  exploded 
theory  and  we  are  all  free  agents ;  but  it  will 
make  a  great  difference  to  you  which  way  you 
steer." 

It  was  not  easy  for  Alan  to  talk  on  such  subjects 
to  his  teacher,  and  a  word  dropped  now  and  then 
may  have  beeU  all  the  more  effective  on  that 
account.  Tliev  sat  on  the  bank  silentlv  drawin^r 
in  the  rainbow-tinted  trout,  until  at  last  Alan 
exclaimed : 

"  It  is  positive  murder  for  us  to  fish  longer.  We 
have  more  here  now  than  we  can  possibly  eat, 
unless  we  confine  ourselves  exclusively  to  a  trout 
diet."  He  reeled  his  line  as  he  spoke  and  sat 
watching  Mr.  Bruce,  who  was  prolonging  the  bliss 
of  angling  by  playing  with  the  trout  on  his  hook. 

"If  this  were  not  such  an  out-of-the-way  place, 
we  could  supply  our  friends  all  over  the  Union 
with  trout  and  game,"  Mr.  Bruce  muttered,  as  he 
took  the  trout  at  last  from  the  hook  and  followed 
Alan's  example. 

"  If  we  could  bring  an  entire  charity  school  here 
from  the  slums  of  one  of  our  great  cities,  we  could 
fish  to  our  heart's  content.  Do  vou  think  we 
could  manage  it?"  Alan  asked  his  question 
eagerly. 

"  It  would  involve  a  great  deal  of  car^-,  together 
with  considerable  expense,"  was  tlie  tutor's  reply. 

"  It  would  pay  us  though.    Just  fancy  those 


\ 


a 


1 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


6i 


1; 


hungry  little  wretches  let  loose  under  these  trees 
for  a  couple  of  mouths  !  The  game  laws,  I  believe, 
do  not  reach  inland  so  far  as  this,  and  they  could 
have  all  the  fowl  and  fish  they  wanted." 

"  Boys  would  soon  tire  of  such  diet." 

"  Certainly ;  we  should  have  other  thin,i;s  of 
course,  canned  food  and  biscuits,  if  nothing  else. 
But  what  a  revelation  it  would  be  to  them  !  They 
might  grow  to  love  nature  so  well  they  would 
elect  a  life  in  the  country  when  they  became  men. 
Anything  that  helps  coming  generations  to  find 
homes  in  the  country,  is  money  very  well  applied. 
I  don't  care  particularly  how  I  spend  my  money, 
so  that  I  help  others  ;  the  poor  need  it  as  much 
as  the  university  students  I  planned  to  help  when 
I  was  a  mere  boy." 

"That  is  not  the  orthodox  way  for  reformers. 
They  must  choose  their  work  and  then  slick  to  it." 

"I  am  not  committed  to  anything,  except  that 
I  must  do  my  own  work  now  and  Rex's  as  well." 

''Is  that  possible?  I  fancy  we  must  each  do 
our  own  work  or  have  it  go  forever  undone.  How 
is  it,  Alan,  that  you  give  me  such  uncomfortable 
views  about  these  matters  and  rob  me  of  the 
charm  of  idleness  that  I  could  otherwise  so  fully 
enjoy?" 

"It  may  be  sensations  are  infectious.  I  know  I 
am  puzzled  about  these  matters  a  good  deal," 
Alan  answered,  reflectively. 


' ,  ■  I 


63 


Tin<:   MASTER   Ol-    DFJvPLAWN 


il^ 


i 


i 


Just  then  Oabe  gave  the  sig-iial  that  siip]jer  was 
ready  and  the  conversation  was  interrupted.  He 
was  an  expert  cook  and  tlie  outdoor  life  gave 
fine  appetites,  so  that  tliey  always  obeyed  his 
suninions  with  alacrity.  He  had,  in  addition  to 
his  culinary  gifts,  another  accoinplishnient  lint 
often  stood  them  in  good  stead  as  they  sat  watch- 
in  ^^  the  twilight  deepen  among  the  trees — an 
ancient  pipe  through  whose  black  stem  he  had 
drawn  many  an  hour's  solacement.  The  trouble- 
some black  insects,  the  chief  drawback  to  forest 
life,  liad  not  yet  acquired  a  taste  for  tobacco,  and 
so  circled  warilv  on  the  extreme  outer  ed 'C  of  the 
bUiL^  wrealhs.  Alan,  as  he  frequently  supplemented 
Gabe's  efforts  bv  waving  a  green  bough  over  his 
head,  used  to  wonder,  if  his  perceptions  were  keen 
enough,  w  )uld  he  not  hear  a  jangled  mixture  of 
coughing,  spluttering,  an  1  insect  remon-trauces 
from  those  m  dtitudinous  pests  because  of  that 
malodorous  pipe. 

They  always  retired  early,  after  freely  distribut- 
ing a  compound  in  their  tents  that  O  ibe  nrinu- 
factured  from  various  ingredients,  wh'.ch  exorcised 
the  stinging  things  more  effectually  than  the 
tobacco.  They  enjoyed  most  perfect  sleep,  not 
even  disturbed  by  the  flaring  fires  which  Gabe 
arose  at  regular  intervals  to  tend  in  order  to  keep 
wild  animals  at  bay.  They  used  to  rise  in  the 
early  morning  from  their  bed  of  boughs  feeling 


f^' 


i 


NEWFOUNDLAND  63 

that  they  had  received  new  streiii^th  from  the 
contact  with  mother  eartli,  wliile  ail  the  forest 
aronnd  them  was  thrilling- with  the  melody  poured 
from  a  thonsand  throats. 

It  is  true  there  were  stormy  da\s— tlie  loni;-, 
pitiless  rains  of  midsummer;  these  were  an  in- 
fliction, for  troutinn;  in  mackintoshes,  or  ^rnnuin^ 
under  similar  difficulties,  was  not  to  be  tl".)uj,dit 
of  when  one  must  tramp  under  rain-soaked  trc-es 
'  or  through  a  tangle  of  fern  and  imderbrush.  Alan 
Ifad  lost  much  of  his  relish  for  books  under  these 
primitive  conditions,  and  so  he  used  to  drift  away 
to  Gabe's  tiny  wigwam,  and  prevail  upon  him  to 
recount  his  exploits  on  sea  and  land. 

Gabe  was  ever  obliging,  and  since  it  w  is  stories 
of  adventure  which  this  keen-eyed  vonng  fellow 
craved,  adventures  he  gave  him  of  tlie  most  thrill- 
ing description,  for  Gabe  was  a  novelist  in  his 
own  way,  and  could  paint  as  lurid  pictures  as  the 
most  sensational  of  the  craft.  What  lie  liked  best 
was  to  see  the  dreamy  look  creep  into  those  brave 
eyes  that  bore  the  expression  in  their  depths  of 
one  who  had  looked  on  sorrow.  He  soon  dis- 
covered that  his  listener  seemed  most  interested 
in  the  traditions  of  older  days,  when  the  Indians 
owned  all  this  vast  western  world  away  to  the  set- 
ting sun.  Alan  felt  certain  that  Gabe  drew  largelv 
on  his  imagination  for  these  stories  and  traditions, 
and  since  he  was  not  certain  where  fact  ended  and 


I 


« 


6)  THK    MASTKR   OF   DI-.KPLAWN 

fiction  bt-'j^an,  he  cheated  the  narrator  by  studying 
him  and  spccuhitinji^  very  often  diuinj^  his  nio-t 
exciting  recitals  what  Gabe  might  have  been  had 
his  skin  been  white,  and  his  early  days  spent 
amid  the  higher  civilization  of  the  pale  faces. 

One  evening,  as  they  talked,  Gabe  sngxested  a 
trip  to  Labrador,  asserting  that  there  were  vessels 
frequently  passing  to  and  fro,  an  1  on  their  return 
to  Bonavista,  if  nothing  better  presented  itself, 
they  could  go  to  St.  John's  and  there  take  the  mail 
steamer  for  the  north.  He  olTered  his  services  as 
guide  at  so  low  a  rate  that  Alan  secured  him  on 
the  spot,  and  then  went  immediately  to  Air.  Bruce 
and  announced  his  determination  to  start  the  fol- 
lowing day. 

"  We  have  done  about  all  there  is  to  do  here," 
he  explained.  "I  really  think  I  would  like  some- 
thing more  exciting.  Gabe  described  the  .scenery 
there  in  such  glowing  colors  that  I  want  to  see  it 
all  for  myself.  According  to  him  nature  must 
have  been  in  a  particularly  merr\'  mood  during 
some  of  her  upheavals  in  those  wild  solitudes." 

Mr.  Bruce  signified  his  willingness  to  accom- 
pany Alan  as  far  from  civilization  as  lie  might 
desire,  and  at  day-dawn  their  tents  were  struck, 
their  canoe  started,  and  their  faces  turned  toward 
the  sea.  What  a  perfect  day  it  was — floating  now 
out  of  some  dark  ravine  through  overhanging 
cliffs,  then   out   on   broad   lake-like  stretches  of 


NKWFOUXDI.AND 


65 


miri|.pk(l  water,  the  only  sound  to  break  the  lan- 
.^uorous  stilhiess  being  the  swish  of  the  paddles, 
or  a  bird-call  from  the  forest  dcptlis. 

Alan  took  a  turn  paddlin<;  now  and  then,' and 
again,  with  both  hands  clasped  for  a  pillow,  he 
leaned  back,  looking  into  the  depths  that  can  only 
be  scaled  by  fancy's  strong  wing  ;  great  suns  were 
wheeling  there,  no  doubt  as  full  of  activities  as 
this  planet  ship  that  held  him  prisoner;  he  won- 
dered had  sin  disturbed  their  harmonv  ;  were  in- 
sanity and  death  the  lot  of  the  beings  who  swung 
aloft  in  those  vast  circles  of  worlds?  His  fancy 
perhaps  was  never  quite  so  busy  as  on  those  days 
when  he  floated  hour  after  hour  through  those 
inland  solitudes. 

Mr.  Bruce  too,  seemed  in  a  contemplative  mood. 
He  had  a  copy  of  "  Dante,"  as  the  poet  wrote  it 
out  of  his  own  heart,  in  the  language  of  his  sunny 
Tuscan  home ;  but  there  were  long  pauses  between 
the  lines  as  his  eyes  followed  now  a  bird,  wheeling 
far  above  him  jo>oush-,  and  now  the  sun-kissed 
waters  on  the  leaf\-  shore. 

"Just  to  think  of  the  souls  up  there,"  Alan  re- 
marked at  last.  "  What  an  army  our  world  has 
sent  to  join  those  ranks  of  shining  ones  !  It  will 
be  grand  to  die,  for  Sirius,  Ak'lebaran,  Orion, 
Jupiter,  all  may  have  their  contingents  there  too.' 
I  wonder  how  theirs  and  ours  will  rank  together, 
and  in  what  ways  their  experiences  wi.l  airiee?" 


li 


r.  11 


!!  4  ft!  > 


:)    ■     > 


66 


THE   MASTKR   OF   I?KKPLAWN 


Mr.  Bruce  looked  at  hiiii  curiously.  What  sort 
of  \ouili  was  this  who  lived  so  inteuselv  iu  Ix^tli 
worlds  ?  Other  youug  fellows  at  his  age  had  their 
auibitions  uiaiuly  bounded  by  the  fit  of  their  s^ar- 
nients,  the  silky  down  appearing  on  lip.i  and 
cheeks,  their  skill  in  athletic  games,  or  the  way 
their  tender  overtures  were  received  by  maidens 
as  feather-headed  as  themselves.  Alan  had  a 
most  provoking  indifference  to  all  these  matters, 
save  the  athletic  sports.  No  captain  of  a  univer- 
sity eleven  could  be  prouder  of  the  iact  that  his 
nerve  was  strong  enough  to  match  the  muscle  of 
the  champion  wrestler  in  rustic  circles  at  Deep- 
lawn. 

They  reached  Bonavista  at  sunset.  Gabe  safely 
moored  his  canoe  and  then  went  around  in  search 
of  a  vessel.  In  a  short  time  he  came  speeding 
back  with  the  news  that  a  vessel  was  just  about 
ready  to  sail  for  Labrador.  They  went  on  board, 
and  the  anchor  was  lifted  that  evening.  The 
moon  was  near  the  full,  but  the  air  too  calm  to 
suit  the  skipper,  who  was  leaving  behind  him  the 
bride  of  a  week.  To  be  becalmed  in  those  rip- 
pling northern  waters,  no  matter  how  superl)  the 
scenery  might  be,  would  not  suit  him  so  well  as 
a  rattling  wind. 

Mr.  Bruce  and  Alan,  grown  accustomed  to  rough- 
ing it,  lay  down  on  some  folds  of  sailcloth  on  the 
deck,  after  fixing  a  bit  of  awning  above   their 


NEWFOrNDLAND 


67 


.0 


'( 


ir 


heads  to  shut  out  the  uioonbeauis.  Here  thc\- 
slc[)t  as  ])rotoundly  as  ii'  resting  ou  down  and 
curtained  with  satin,  and  they  certainly  awoke 
with  a  much  better  taste  in  their  mouths.  Tiiey 
were  ready  lor  tlieir  breakfast  of  fresii  cod,  salt 
pork,  and  biscuits,  which  ALin  ate  with  a  relish 
that  astonished  the  sailors,  who  did  not  think 
that  a  youth  rich  enoui^h  to  travel  with  his  tutor 
aad  a  guide,  would  have  an  appetite  in  common 
witii  toughened  toilers  of  the  sea.  He  learned 
rapidly,  and  profiting  by  the  lessons  on  the  WMy 
up  from  St.  John's,  he  was  soon  able  to  do  a  sail- 
or's work.  The  weather  had  been  .so  calm  that 
he  had  leisure  to  master  all  the  intricacies  of  ropes 
and  sea  plirases,  for  the  sailors  were  glad  to  com- 
municate what  thev  knew  to  the  \outli  who,  bv  his 
kindliness,  had  won  their  hearty  good-will.  They 
were  becalmed  at  one  time  for  several  days,  but 
Alan  did  not  find  the  delay  long.  He  reckoned 
that  when  the  winds  did  waken  and  fill  out  those 
flapping  sails,  he  himself  could  manage  the  craft 
safely,  were  but  the  op])ortunity  given  him. 

At  last,  one  night,  he  and  Mr.  Bruce  were 
awakened  by  a  heavy  rumbling,  and  a  moment 
later  the  water  drenched  them  where  they  lay. 
Springing  to  their  feet,  they  found  the  staunch 
little  ship  in  the  midst  of  a  half-gale,  and  plow- 
ing along  finely  toward  the  north,  with  every  inch 
of  canvas  set,  and  the  captain  whistling  cheerily 


68 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


.,M 


at  tlie  wheel.  Mr.  Bruce  went  below,  wliile  Alan 
scrambled  into  an  oiled  suit,  loaned  liini  by  a 
sailor  whose  watch  he  offered  to  relieve,  and  then 
began,  to  the  rhythm  of  rollint^  thunder  and  dash- 
ing rain,  to  put  his  new  acquirements  in  practice. 
He  found  it  was  not  so  easy  climbing  into  the  rig- 
ging and  making  his  way  along  the  slippery  deck 
as  when  the  vessel  was  motionless,  but  this  was 
vastly  more  to  his  mind,  for  it  was  life,  and  he 
felt  his  pulses  tingling  with  the  mad  delight  of 
overcoming  the  elemental  fury.  In  the  height  of 
the  storm  Mr.  Bruce  came  on  deck  to  urge  him  to 
seek  the  cabin's  shelter,  but  his  pleading  was  in 
vain. 

"  I  promised  a  sailor  to  keep  his  watch,  and  I 
won't  go  back  on  my  word,"  Alan  declared,  dash- 
ing the  spray  from  his  face  as  he  spoke.  "  I  am 
going  to  earn  my  breakfast  and  an  appetite  to 
relish  it." 

'*  You  are  not  a  sailor,  and  the  steward  assures 
me  that  this  is  a  night  to  try  the  seamanship  of 
an  old  tar.  It  will  be  a  dear  night's  work  for  a 
good  many  I  fear,  if  you  are  washed  overboard." 

''  I  will  take  care.  It  is  too  much  to  ask  me  to 
be  shut  up  in  a  hole  on  a  night  like  this." 

Mr.  Bruce  was  not  convinced,  but  made  his  way 
carefully  to  the  wheel  and  interviewed  the  captain. 

"  The  young  master  '11  be  all  right ;  you  can  let 
him  stay,"  was  the  reply,  given  with  all  conli- 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


69 


dence.  Far  from  convinced,  Mr.  Brnce  stood  in 
the  drivin-^-  storm,  resolved  to  watch  Alan's  niovc- 
nK-nts  if  he  conld  not  control  them. 

"  Pity  that  nn  conldn't  be  a  sailor,  he  do  well 
at  it  and  wonld  soon  be  a  skipper,"  the  captain  re- 
marked, as  he  tightened  his  jacket  and  followed 
Alan's  movements  adniirin<^lv.  "  No  ^irl  abont 
he,  and  he  takes  to  we  jnst  like  one  of  our  own 


n 


lads. 

'*I  wish  he  was  not  so  eai^er  about  sailors' 
duties  just  now,  for  his  life  is  most  valuable,  and 
the  sea  would  swallow  him  as  greedily  as  the  most 
useless. ' ' 

"Yes,  I've  seen  he  take  down  a  whole  vessel 
load  in  a  storm;  but  us  don't  go  till  our  time 
comes.  Every  sailor  knows  that,  and  it  keeps  they 
from  beiu'^  friofluened." 

Alan  came  at  last  to  Mr.  Bruce's  side. 

"  If  you  are  so  anxious  about  me,  I  will  go  be- 
low," he  said,  softly. 

"Of  your  own  free  will?"  Mr.  Bruce  a.sked, 
greatly  relieved. 

"  You  must  ask  no  questions  but  take  my  sub- 
mission for  what  it  is  worth,"  was  the  laughing 
reply.  "  And  you  must  come  and  call  Solomon 
yourself  and  tell  him  it  is  not  my  fault." 

The  storm  followed  them  until  they  reached 
Labrador.  Alan's  face  had  been  finely  bronzed 
and  his  hands  roughened  bv  the  toils  of  the  sea. 


^7^ 


■• 


JO 


THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


They  soon  realized  that  Gabe  had  not  overdrawn 
the  description  of  nature's  ru<^ged  wildness  in  that 
northern  land,  as  with  the  canoe  they  made  lonj^ 
excursions  inland,  returnini^-  to  the  vessel  with 
faces  covered  with  the  bites  of  the  myriad  insects, 
chief  amon^;  them  mosquitoes  and  black  flies, 
but  as  delighted  with  what  they  had  seen  as  if  a 
few  fly  bites  more  or  less  were  matters  of  supreme 
inconsequence.  The  bark  tarried  but  a  short  time, 
and  Gabe  then  suggested  a  trip  around  the  western 
shore  of  Newfoundland  in  some  sailing  vessel,  for, 
evidently,  he  was  unwilling  to  part  company  with 
these  new  acquaintances.  He  assured  them  they 
could  easily  take  a  schooner  from  the  south  across 
to  Cape  Breton,  which  lay  only  sixty  miles  away, 
and  after  that  they  would  have  no  further  diffi- 
culty in  making  their  way  homeward.  He  fur- 
thermore assured  Alan  that  he  would  be  able  by 
that  time  to  take  full  charge  of  a  schooner  him- 
self. 

"  If  he  had  a  capable  crew,"  Mr.  Bruce  gently 
insinuated.  But  Gabe  maintained  that  he  could 
,i^et  on  with  the  same  crews  with  which  average 
skippers  are  provided.  The  suggestion  suited 
Alan's  fancy,  but  they  had  already  overstayed 
their  vacation  period,  and  their  presence  was  de- 
manded at  Deeplawn. 

The  remains  of  the  commissariat  department 
^'  ere  bestowed  upon  Gabe,  in  addition  to  a  more 


' 


NEWFOUNDLAND 


71 


substantial  token  of  their  appreciation  of  his  ser- 
vices, and  then  good-b\'e  was  said. 

The  travelers,  however,  first  promised  to  return 
the  following-  year  if  all  was  well,  and  with  him 
for  a  guide,  take  the  proposed  trip  along  the  west 
coast. 


CHAPTER  VII 


UNIVERSITY   LIFE 


DEEPLAWN  was  closed  for  the  winter,  save 
only  a  few  rooms  reserved  for  Mrs.  Dixon, 
Mr.  Dolliver,  and  one  of  the  maids.  Alan  went 
to  Brown  ;  Mr.  Brnce  had  sccnred  a  professor- 
ship in  a  western  college;  and  Reginald  was  still 
in  the  asvlnni.  In  some  wavs  he  now  seemed 
rational,  bnt  the  consuming  desire  to  destroy 
Alan's  life  had  in  no  wise  abated.  Indeed,  so  de- 
termined was  he  that  he  was  not  acquainted  with 
Alan's  wliereabouts  lest,  escapin-^,  he  might  put 
in  execution  the  plans  th:it  occupied  most  of  his 
thoughts.  Not  one  of  the  experts  who  had  treated 
him  held  out  any  hopes  of  his  recovery,  for  his 
mind  appeared  to  be  hopelessly  diseased.  P'or  the 
last  few  years  he  had  lived  at  such  high  pres- 
sure, violating  recklesslv  every  physical  law,  that 
his  constitution  had  sunk  beneath  the  strain. 
Alan  had  visited  him  once,  but  the  ferocit)Us 
gleam  in  the  once  kindlv,  beaming  eves,  the  sar- 
donic  convulsion  of  the  features,  the  scarce  human 
growl  of  rage  issuing  from  the  frothing  lips  at  his 
presence,  told  only  too  plainly  that  the  fewer  inter- 
views between  them  the  better  for  both.  Alan 
72 


UNIVERSITY   LIFE 


graclually  learned  from  others  of  the  temptations 
that  had  beset  his  brother,  but  whieli  he  had 
neither  tlie  wisdom  nor  will-power  to  wiUistand. 
The  wine  suppers  and  mad  revelries  connected 
with  them,  the  gambliufi^  and  other  nameless 
vices,  had  laid  a  poor  foundation  for  mature  man- 
hood when  all  t)Overnin<;-  restraint  was  removed. 

Alan  had  elected  a  full  course  of  fjcueral  studv  ; 
he  had  no  si)ecial  leaninj^  toward  any  of  the  pro- 
fessions, and  he  was  not  williu':^  to  join  either  the 
overcrowded  le^al  or  medical  ranks,  nor  did  he 
fear  that  the  country  was  in  dan^^er  of  the  present 
supply  provin;^-  inadequate  to  the  demand. 

It  was  soon  generally  known  among  his  ac- 
quaintances that,  if  he  chose,  he  might  j  >in  the 
ranks  of  the  gilded  youth,  since  his  family  was 
sufficiently  prominent  for  him  to  take  this  posi- 
tion, both  by  birth  and  fortune  ;  hence  any  section 
of  club  life  was  open  to  him,  and  he  was  enabled 
to  draw  his  companions  from  any  set  he  desired. 
It  was  known  too,  that  he  had  control  of  a  large 
income  already,  and  would  therefore  be  a  very 
useful  addition  to  any  of  their  societies,  for  the 
many  luxuries  in  which  they  indulged  were  ex- 
pensive, and  additional  members  were  warmly 
welcomed;  so  a  good  many  were  bidding  for  his 
friendship. 

He  received  their  overtures  with  his  usual  po- 
liteness, and  expressed  his  willingness  to  ent:-r 


m 


74 


THE   MASTER  OK   DKKPLAWN 


III 


I 


I 


111- 


li " 


into  any  society  that  wonld  tend  to  fnrther  his 
literary  advancement.  Bnt  there  was  soniethin.;^'' 
in  his  manner  that  marked  him  as  superior  to  the 
ordinar\  society  ])roclivities,  and  impressed  the 
students  that  he,  in  some  measure,  li\ed  on  a 
hiiL^her  plane  than  they. 

However,  Alan  was  not  easily  persuaded  to  be- 
come a  meml)er  of  any  orj^anization  whose  claims 
had  been  presented  to  him,  and  he  worked  at  his 
studies  detcrminedh',  with  the  consciousness  that 
he  was  mentally  expanding;-  and  his  powers  of  ob- 
servation oTowin<;^  stronger  and  more  varied. 

As  the  months  wore  on,  h  'ever,  the  question 
presented  itself  to  his  niLid  wdiether  a  clul) 
formed  on  helpful  principles  mi^rht  not  be  bene- 
ficial to  students,  since  it  seemed  to  be  a  necessity 
with  them  to  require  something  of  the  kind.  He 
was  not  constituted  like  the  unhappy  class  of 
reformers  who  take  their  work  so  seriously  that 
their  whole  life  is  embittered  by  it.  The  idea  as- 
sumed more  definite  proportions,  and  with  his  ac- 
customed directness  he  invited  his  acquaintances 
to  join  him  in  his  projected  enterprise,  explaining 
to  them  just  what  his  thought  was,  and  propos- 
ing a  few  simple  rules  for  their  acceptance  and 
signature,  which  impressed  some  of  them  as  re- 
markably similar  to  the  ten  commandments ;  the 
ordinary  vices  were  so  definitely  prohibited  that 
there  was  no  possibility  of  a  misunderstanding. 


•I 


UNIVERSITY   LIFE  75; 

Of  course,  tliere  was  a  j:;ood  deal  of  fun  mad- 
of  tlie  i)r()i)oscd  eliib.  There  were  a  good  many 
toasts  drunk  in  its  lionor,  and  some  very  witty 
speeelics  liad  tiieir  inspiration  from  it.  IJiu  tliere 
was  little  to  be  gained  in  this  way,  for  Alan,  to  all 
aj^pearanccs,  was  equally  indifferent  to  their  eoni- 
mcndations  or  contempt.  Half  a  dozen  names 
had  been  subscribed  the  first  evening-,  most  of 
them  beinor  students  in  theolo.i^y,  and  the  quiet 
entertainment  that  followed  hardly  seemed  differ- 
ent from  any  ordinary  gathering  in  a  comrade's 
room. 

Before  the  evening  was  ended,  however,  they 
began  to  fancy  this  new  club  might  mean  vastlv 
more  than  they  anticipated,  for  later,  when  Alan 
more  fully  explained  what  the  rules  they  had 
signed  really  included,  they  realized  their  promises 
to  be  deeply  binding  upon  them.  Not  merely  the 
few  years  of  student  life  were  concerned,  but  they 
were  for  every  year  until,  from  other  worlds,  j^er- 
haps,  they  would  look  back  upon  this  life  as  a  task 
finished  for  good  or  ill. 

They  found  that  their  promises  included  the 
diligent  use  of  every  opportunity  to  improve 
themselves,  and  help  others  to  do  the  same;  to 
overcome  any  constitutional  weakness  of  pride, 
sloth,  selfishness  in  the  abstract,  or  in  the  coarser 
forms  that  develop  by  indulgence  therein  ;  to  de- 
fend the  helpless,  whether  human  or  dumb  ;  to 


76 


THE   MASTKR   OF   DKEPI.AWN 


I  i 


S! 


expend  as  little  as  possible  on  themselves  by 
needless  self-incluliT;^eiice  ;  and  to  endeavor  to  brini,^ 
to  mankind  the  a;^e  of  light,  dreamed  of  and  sun^q;- 
by  philosophers  and  poets  throngli  every  period. 
Of  conrse,  in  addition,  it  was  in  the  strictest  sense 
a  teniperanee  society. 

After  the  rnles  had  been  read  and  explained 
with  consi(lerai)le  niinnteness,  all  were  <;iven  the 
privilcL^e,  if  they  so  desired,  to  have  their  names 
tai-ien  oil  the  pledge.  The  very  coolness  of  the 
leader,  Alan,  as  he  propo.-ed  this,  fascinated  them, 
lie  a>snred  them  that  he  was  not  anxions  to  have 
timid  members  withont  the  conrage  to  endure  the 
contempt  of  fellow-stndents,  since  sncli  wonld,  in 
all  probability,  fall  to  their  lot.  "I  ninst  say  that 
I  wonld  prefer  two  men  of  real  conrage,  who 
wonld  be  just  as  strong  to  bear  contempt  as  praise, 
rather  than  a  score  of  weak-hearted  ones.  They 
wonld  be  more  help  to  any  cause."  He  spoke  in 
a  way  that  made  every  one  of  them  present  wish 
to  be  one  of  the  two  possessed  of  genuine  courage. 
No  one  requested  a  withdrawal  of  his  signature, 
and  the  six  names  remained  on  the  paper. 

As  they  walked  away  when  the  meeting  was 
ended,  each  one  confessed  to  the  feeling  that  he 
had  come  in  contact  with  one  who  was  differ- 
ent from  themselves,  and,  in  fact,  from  any 
they  knew^  They  were  also  not  a  little  surprised 
that  cue  younger  than  most  of  them,  and  with 


UNIVERSITY   LIFE 


n 


less  experience  of  school  life,  should  have  com- 
pel led  such  ready  subiiiissiuii  to  his  will. 

*'  It  is  my  opinion  that  yonn<r  Rivers  will  make 
his  mark  in  the  world,"  one  of  the  students  named 
Stennett,  remarked  defensively.  He  was  t!ie  old- 
est of  the  six,  and  felt  that  some  excuse  was 
necessary  for  the  easy  ascendency  gained  over 
each  one  of  theui. 

"  I  scarcely  think  so,"  another  responded  ;  "  he 
is  too  religious  ever  to  get  far  ahead.  That  always 
bars  one's  progress.  But  I  can't  understand  how 
he  got  us  all  under  his  thumb  so  easily.  He  must 
have  a  good  deal  of  reserve  power.  '  However,  I 
mean  to  stick  to  the  programme,  if  for  nothing 
else  than  to  see  what  will  come  of  it." 

"He  is  not  the  one  to  be  kept  down  bv  relioion 
or  anything  of  the  kind.  He  is  a  genuine  woi^^ef, 
and  very  bright  I  am  told,  and  gets  through  as 
much  study  as  two  ordinary  students." 

"  He  is  a  born  leader,  whatever  else  he  may 
be,"  Stennett  declared.  He  was  feeling  more 
serious  that  night  than  he  had  done  for  many  a 
nionth ;  his  father  was  a  minister  in  a  country 
village,  and  at  great  self-sacrifice  was  puttincr  his 
son  through  college.  He  realized  that  he  had  not 
been  so  industrious  as  he  might  have  been,  but 
could  have  considerably  lessened  his  fitter's 
burdens  if  he  had  so  willed,  bv  hard  studN-,  and 
securing  some  of  the  generous  nionev  prizes  pro- 


Ji? 


78 


Till'    MASTKR   OI<    DKKPr.AWX 


m 


K' 


|l 


fi 


ii.  i'i 


fW  \i 


vicUd  in  the  uiiivcr.>ily  by  benevolently  dlsp  xsed 
persons.  Now  as  lie  saw  a  meteor  flasii  iVoni  the 
upper  ab\  ss,  his  tlKju.i^hts  were  suddenly  arrested 
and  diverted  from  every-da\'  channels  to  a  time 
farther  alonj^^  the  future,  when  not  even  a  remi- 
niscence of  him  would  remain  on  earth.  To  him, 
in  that  future  period  of  his  existence,  it  would  be 
a  matter  of  tremendously  serious  importance  how 
he  used  his  privilei^es  and  opportunities  of  this 
present.  He  left  his  comrades  and  went  to  his 
own  room.  l''ar  into  the  ni<;^ht  he  lay  to.ssiui;  on 
his  bed  because  of  the  troubled  thoui^hts  be<;otten 
of  that  evening's  encounter.  Alan  was  none  the 
wiser  for  some  time  of  what  he  had  been  the 
means  of  doinq-  for  his  fellow-student.  But  weeks 
after,  as  thev  were  strollin<r  toirether  in  the  after- 
<2^1ow  of  sunset  one  frosty  winter  eveninor,  Stennett 
confessed  the  chani^e  wrouji^ht  in  him,  and  thanked 
the  friend  who  had  helped  him  in  the  very  best 
way  one  human  bein(^  can  benefit  another. 

The  new  club  was  much  discussed  amou^-  those 
who  knew  of  its  existence,  and  others  applied  for 
admission,  thereby  repeating  history  and  recallin^^ 
another  club  that  met  in  a  university  over  the  sea 
.some  eiji^ht  score  years  ago,  and  which  has  very 
considerably  revolutionized  the  face  of  Chris- 
tendom. A  few  cast  ridicule  on  it  to  Alan's  face — 
a  feat  they  did  not  care  a  second  time  to  repeat. 
With  cutting  sarcasm  he  bade  them  confine  their 


i 


UNIVKRSITY    I, IKK  79 

ciiticisnis  to  their  own  <;-alluTin.L;s,  .iiid  ciuk-avor 
to  profit  by  their  own  tcacliiii!^. 

(Jiie  bully,  who  iiieasureil  the  yomir.s  prowess 
b\'  his  a.i^e  and  beardless  face,  was  so  worsted  in 
tile  ar;4iinient  that  he  undertook  to  supplement 
hi^  attack  with  his  fists.  Tiie  muscle  of  his  op- 
pt»uent  was  a  matter  of  most  ay.i;ravat:n.i;  surprise 
to  him,  since  he  found  that  his  arj^uments  by 
slei,ii;ht  of  hand  fully  equalled  those  of  speech. 
Alan  probably  rose  in  the  estimation  of  the 
students  by  this  sturdy  defense  of  his  rij^hts  more 
than  he  mij^lit  have  done  by  a  lonj^  course  of  moral 
suasion  ;  but  after  he  had  recovered  from  the  pas- 
sionate impulse  that  forced  him  so  far  to  forget 
hitnself,  he  resolved  never  to  repeat  the  act.  no 
matter  what  the  provocation  mi!;ht  be.  To  in- 
sure this  he  wisely  determined  not  to  eni^a^^e  in 
W)rdy  warfire,  which  is  only  a  little  more  respect- 
able than  the  pu;^ilistic  kind. 

At  the  next  nieetin:^  the  members  were  filled 
with  astonishment  to  hear  him  apolo.i^Ize  for  the 
part  he  had  taken.  He  went  on  to  say:  "I  felt 
that  I  had  descended  to  a  level  with  the  vSween>s 
and  Sullivans,  or  lower  still,  with  the  dumb 
brutes  who  adjust  their  difliculties  with  tooth  and 
claw.  I  promise  never  aj^^ain  to  dis<;race  myself 
or  the  members  of  our  club  by  such  brutality." 
He  resumed  his  seat  quietly,  but  Ralph  Stennett 
was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant. 


1 


8o 


TIIK   MASTHR   OF   DKF.PI.AWN 


:|{ 


"  It's  awfully  plucky  of  you  to  uiake  that  cou- 
fcssi(jn.  Rivers  ;  \vc  did  not  expect  it.  To  tell  the 
truth,  \vc  w.re  very  proud  of  a  leader  wlio  could 
knock  the  wind  so  ea.silv  out  of  Clancv  ;  but  the 
way  you  have  put  it  shows  fi.L^htin,:^  in  another 
li^dit  which  I,  for  one,  never  viewed  it  in  before." 

There  was  hearly  cheering-  after  vSti^nnetl's 
speech,  but  whether  it  was  for  him  or  Alan,  none 
of  tluMU  seeuiod  ri;^htly  to  know.  Alan  did  not 
permit  any  further  wa^tc  of  time,  but  proceeded 
to  the  jjusiuess  of  the  cveuini^.  Ouestious  were 
to  be  discussjd  thai  ha  I  to  do  with  other  than 
stU(U'nt  life.  It  was  n  >t  merely  neces.sary  to  know 
wiiat  the  ancients  thou'^-lit  and  wrote,  with  the 
great  armv  of  book  and  creed-makers  throu'j^li 
the  centuries  of  our  written  history,  but  whit 
work  they  were  individu  illy  fitted  for  and  likely 
to  succeel  in.  lie  stated,  with  transparent  frank- 
ness, his  own  perplexity  in  the  matter  of  choos- 
in.i^  a  career,  at  the  same  time  relatin;^  that  bit  of 
his  experience  which  had  revolutionized  his 
thou;^ht  when  the  desert  prophet  looked  at  him 
from  out  the  pa,Q^e^  of  the  old  illuminated  Bible. 

A  curious  sensation  went  through  the  j^roup  of 
students  a^  lluy  listened  to  him  tellin;^  in  tliat 
matter-of-f ict  way,  what  each  onec-f  them  would 
have  hesitited  to  acknowle  li^^v-,  liad  it  b.n  t!ieir 
own  experience;  while  their  admiration  of,  and 
reverence  for  him,  as  he  spoke,  would  have  siir- 


\ 


UNIVI'RSITV   IJFK 


8r 


is 

111 
of 

iia 

e:r 
ivl 
Lir- 


pri  e  1  Irni  could  he  luivc  looked  iuio  their  he  iris. 
He  impressed  them  as  so  thoroii;^hly  lioiie-.t,  and 
withal  po-^sess^d  of  sucii  rare  nobility  of  character, 
tlui'  their  natures  were  touched  as  thev  could 
have  been  by  no  other,  save  a  comrade  of  tiieir 
own  a''e. 

Tiiere  was  a  qood  deal  of  suppressed  cnthnsi- 
a-ni,  manifested  only  in  the  j^listcniu':;;  eyes  and 
working-  of  the  mobile  faces.  Subjects  were  dis- 
cussed in  the  .-^ame  business-like  manner  as  their 
games  or  lectures,  which  few  of  them  had  ever 
he  ird  spoken  of  outside  the  walls  of  a  ehnrcli. 
They  soon  found  that  Alan  was  fir  ahead  of  any 
of  them  in  his  knowledi;e  of  classic  literature, 
while  in  the  spirit  of  its  interpretation  he  left 
them  also  far  b 'hind.  The  IJible  was  referred  to 
as  naturally,  and  also  as  fearlessly,  as  Thuc\(lides 
or  Plato,  and  the  sjilendor  of  its  rhetoric  discussed 
as  critically,  but  with  a  reverence  not  shown 
toward  any  other  literature.  To  their  _t;Tcat  sur- 
prise they  found  themselves  nrrowinu^  interested  as 
the  discussion  proceeded,  and  consented  to  devote 
to  it  the  same  attention  bestowed  on  other  master- 
pieces. Alan  confessed  that  he  had  i^ivcn  serious 
thought  to  the  possil)ility  of  h  ivinj:^  the  Hible  in- 
tro'luced  as  a  text-book  in  the  various  colleges. 
On  one  occasion  he  said  : 

"We  are  a  loni;  way  behind   the  ancients  in 
this   respect,   and  it    is    beconiin;^-   noticeable    in 

V 


w 


^ 


82 


TIIK    MASTICU    OK    Dl'il-ri.AWN 


;    I 


!■ 
m 


our  national  character.  Kvcn  tlic  worsliij)  of 
Jnpitcr  or  vSatnrn,  I  believe,  was  ])etter  than  llie 
wholesale  irreverence  of  the  present  day,  the  athe- 
ism, for  it  is  practically  that,  which  controls  men 
and  women  who  are  not  Christians." 

This  cpiestion  had  been  freely  discnssed,  and 
even  the  most  skeptical  was  forced  to  acknowl- 
cdj^e  that  there  was  some  force  in  his  statement. 
Alan  had  some  orii^inal  ideas  respectin;^^  the 
lenj^4h  of  their  .session  and  the  honr  of  nieetinj^. 
Me  preferred  natnral  to  artificial  lii^dit  for  every- 
thin;^^  bnt  sleep,  and  if  possible  be.ii^an  his  (la\'s 
work  with  the  snn.  lie  declared  that  he  did  n'»t 
find  any  special  inspiration  in  j^aslii^ht,  while  his 
eyes  were  all  the  better  for  the  natnr.il  lij;ht. 
WIkh  the  subject  was  discnssed  he  reasoned  that 
it  was  only  the  more  ferocious  anim  iN,  as  a  rule, 
that  chose  the  nijj^lit  time  r)r  seek in.i;-  their  lixe- 
liliood,  wliile  all  the  nobler  specimens  of  brute 
life  carry  on  their  conscious  existence  durini;  the 
day.  He  very  ardently  desired  to  have  their 
liour  for  meetinj;  chanj^ed  to  the  afternoon,  but  as 
this  was  contrary  to  all  ])recedent,  he  foun<l  it  im- 
possible to  persuade  the  other  memi)ers.  As  the 
months  wore  away,  new  names  were  constantly 
added  to  the  list,  and  the  interest  increased,  for 
the  subjects  discussed  were  both  nuuierous  and 
varied.  They  continued  to  j^dve  the  IJible  tlie 
first  place  always,  for  .Man  insisted  that  men  nowa- 


I 


UNivi'Ksnv  i,ifp: 


83 


da\s  slidiild  rcsptcl  iiiatkrs  coniicctol  witli  ihv 
luLurc  life  as  iinuli  as  the  licathcn  \vli<»,  as  a  rule, 
regarded  tlic  (iiicslioii  ol  iiiniiorlalilN'  and  f.\i>t- 
ciicc  of  tile  iiiiniorlal  j^ods  as  tlic  \\:\-  liij^lie.^t 
witiiiii  the  ran^e  of  their  intellectual  faculties. 
There  was  never  anythiu<^  apologetic  in  his  atti- 
tude tuward  relii^iou,  as  if  it  was  at  all  unusual 
i'nv  ><>uii,'^'-  mm  to  j^ive  thennrlves  to  the  dili;^ent 
study  of  theology  witlunit  hein;^  in  any  ])rt>fes- 
siou  d  seu^i-  thcolo'^iaus.  Ju  tin-  matter  of  Cliiis- 
tiau  exneiieuce  he  did  not  iusi.-^t  on  au\  ri,i;id  lules; 
Ir  heiicved  in  makiui;  the  way(»f  life  sosimple  that 
the  least  s])iiitud  could  not  fiil  to  nndeistmid  it. 
lie  tried  to  makt"  them  look  u\y>n  conversion  and 
Christian  sei\ice  as  the  mere  submitt  ni;  ot  the 
will  to  (liid,  and  s(|uarin_!L^  their  tvcr\-da\'  lif-  ])y 
the  two  coiuuKu.diiKut-  Christ  so  .-trou<;l\' <.iuj)ha- 
si/A(l  towaid  tlicclo-eof  his  ininistry. 

The  i^reat  sc-cn  t  of  his  power  o\(  r  lii^  comrades 
was  his  perfec^t  uncoiisciousuess  of  sell".  IIc'  went 
on  his  way  with  such  charmiu'L;  indiircP  nee  to 
everything  but  what  he  re<;^:irdrd  tht-  duty  of  the 
present  hour.  If  lie  had  indidj^fd,  as  mi|L;ht  lia\e 
bieii  so  natural  undi  r  the  circumstances,  in  any 
exhibition  of  a  sense  of  leadirship,  no  doubt  sonic 
of  them  would  have  resented  it,  but  the  most  sensi- 
tive on  this  point  could  find  uothiii!.;  to  cin^ure. 
They  i\'j\  not  know  with  what  carnotness  he  tried 
to  cultivate  self-eflacement. 


CHAPTER  VIU 


AT  .SKA 


AMONG  bis  other  eccentricities,  Alan  paid 
little  attention  to  sociel\',  in  so  far  as  it  ne- 
cessitated attendance  npon  dinner  or  tea  parties, 
or  any  of  the  i;atherin.i;s  where  j^entlenien  ninst 
fij^nre  in  ihe  re,i;nlalion  dress  coat  and  expansive 
linen.  lie  made  a  very  indifferent  carpet  knii^ht, 
and  al\v.i\s  seemed  somewiiat  ill  at  ease  with 
clej^antlv  (lres>ed  women,  nnless  they  could  talk 
intelligently  on  topics  above  the  ordinary  society 
nothin<;s,  and  did  not  exact  from  him  a  courtesy 
that  struck  him  as  almost  servile,  b'or  woman  in 
the  abstract  he  had  mnch  of  that  lialf-for<(otten 
chivalry  which  brij^ditens  the  otiierwise  dusky 
pa.i;es  of  mediieval  history  ;  but  for  women  in  all 
the  bravery  of  «^owns  scant  at  the  shoulders  and 
trailing;'  on  the  floor  he  still  ]K)ssesscd  the  con- 
teni]')t  of  the  avera<^e  schoolboy.  His  wealth  and 
social  position  secured  him  admittance  into  the 
best  society,  and  as  time  wore  on  his  own  in- 
dividual merit  as  a  brillant  student  would  have 
done  so;  but  after  a  few  ixj^eriences  he  turned 
his  face  resobitely  from  such  frivolities. 

"  I  will  never  be  a  society  man  ;  nature  did  not 
84 


AT  SEA 


85 


1 

.1 

i- 

(l 

le 

n- 

/(.' 

id 


intciHl  111c  U)V  it  any  more  than  she  meant  me  for 
a  musieian  or  a  tailor,"  he  remarked  al  a  elnh 
•^allierinL!^  one  ilay  when  that  snhjeet  was  beini^^ 
(lisenssed. 

'^  \'ou  snrely  behevc  in  friendly  interconise 
anions  human  beinj^s,  for  man  is  i)re-eminentl\'  a 
soeial  animal,"  one  of  the  members  retnrned 
defensively. 

''  Yes,  certainly,  I  believe  in  friendly  Imman 
fellovv^ship  as  mneh  as  an\-  of  yon  ;  bnt  too  mneh  of 
a  certain  kind  is  worse  for  a  person  who  valnes 
time,  than  solitary  confniement.  I,  for  one,  wonld 
stipulate  that  onr  intimate  friends,  to  be  lielpful 
to  ns,  n.ii^t  be  of  the  finest  (jnality,  and  then 
taken  only  in  limited  (inantilies." 

'^  Von  are  too  mneh  of  a  stoic  for  mc ;  ])erhaps 
yon  really  are  one  of  those  old  vSpartans  trans- 
planted into  this  nineteenth  century,"  was  the 
somewhat  ])etnlant  re  pl\'. 

"Tell  me  what  do  sou  \^a\\\  for  the  loss  of  a 
j^ood  fi\e-honrs'  slee]"),  save  a  fit  of  indii^e.-tion 
brouj^ht  on  by  over-indul^tnce  in  those  temptinj;- 
viands  of  the  cook's  skill?  I  tried  it  two  or  three 
times  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  old  family  con- 
nections; but  as  I  came  home  after  midnight,  the 
very  stars  seemed  to  be  cpicstionini^^  why  I  wasted 
my  streni;th  in  that  fashion.  My  head  was  in  a 
whirl  from  watchinj^  the  dancers,  my  blood  hot 
from   the  heavy,   perfumed   air,   and   I   hadn't    a 


86 


TIIH    MASTHR    OK    I)Kl<:i'LAWN 


siiij^lc  tliin.q:  to  produce  as  a  iiicincnto  of  what  I  liad 
lost.  My  time  is  too  preci(nis  and  the  necessity 
for  a  cool,  rested  brain  too  <;rcat  for  nie  to  take 
time  for  such  work." 

"  I  am  almost  tempted  to  believe  that  there  are 
individual  cases  of  transmigration  of  souls,  and 
Confucius  or  Socrates  perchance  is  takin,;^^  a  stroll 
around  the  earth  under  the  <'uise  of  vour  stern, 
handsome  face." 

"  Hah  !  "  was  the  contemptuous  reply,  and  they 
forthwith  be^^au  to  dccij)lier  an  ancient  cuneiform 
inscrii)tion  inscribed  centuries  a-^o — a  task  which, 
of  course,  baflled  them  completeh- ;  but  it  i^axe 
them  soniethin<^  to  think  about  other  than  the 
convolutions  of  the  dance,  class-suppers,  and  the 
transmigration  of  souls. 

Alan's  chivalry  was  not  the  kind  to  make  him 
particularly  desired  by  richh'  dressed  damsels, 
since  he  had  an  impression,  possibly  an  erroneous 
one,  that  they  were  as  capable  of  alteudinj;  to 
their  own  interests  as  he  was  to  his  ;  ])Ut  a  fellow- 
student  was  sure  of  receivinj^  a  scathin.i^'  rebuke 
if  he  saw  him  retain  his  seat  in  a  street-car,  or  any 
public  j^atherinj;,  when  there  were  elderly  or 
shabbily  dressed  women  near  at  hand  who  had 
no  seat.  Alan  himself  .s:avc  his  seat  to  the 
han<'htiest  or  huud)lest  alike,  but  he  criticised 
the  others  only  for  not  deferriu!^  to  the  latter. 
His  student  friends  used   to  watch,  with  covert 


AT  SEA 


R7 


amnseiucnt,  his  fint^crs  twitchinj^  nervously  when 
he  saw  a  poorly  dressed  woman  wearily  lioldinj^ 
on  to  the  car  strap,  perhaps  thereby  reveal in.i(  her 
shabbiness  of  dress,  while  some  sleek  youth  leaned 
back  in  his  seit  ;  they  were  pretty  certain  that 
those  same  sinewy  fniL^ers  were  achin,*^  t<j  fling 
him  to  one  side,  and  place  the  tired  worker  in  his 
1)1  ace. 

''It  is  useless  for  you  to  fret  and  worry  over  the 
shortcominj^s  of  others.  Humanity  is  only  noble 
in  small  sections,  and  the  rank  and  fde  have  so 
man\'  meannesses,  both  inherited  and  ac(iuire(l, 
that  they  are  cnouj^h  to  blii^ht  a  whole  race  if 
evenly  distributed,''  Ralph  Stcnnett  remarked 
wearily  one  day,  after  Alan  had  been  talking  to 
a  few  of  them  on  the  subject.  Ralph  was  not 
strong-soulcd  enough  to  fight  all  these  meannesses 
and  slill  keep  his  own  heart  brave  and  cheery. 
Fcw  are  thus  able,  and  they  are  the  reformers  of 
the  hrst  water,  the  kohinoors,  so  to  speak,  among 
the  i^astc. 

"I  do  not  mean  to  fret,  but  to  fight,"  was  the 
sturdy  re-ponsc.  ''And  those  who  call  me  friend 
must  do  the  same;  not  merely  in  one  thing,  but 
in  everything,  as  far  as  their  light  goes." 

''  You  make  your  terms  of  friendshi[)  tremen- 
dously high." 

Aim  glanced  around  keenly  on  the  faces,  more 
or  less  amused. 


^f 


::( 


88 


TIIK    MASTKR   OF   DKHIM.AWN 


i 


■ri 


"  Your  own  true  inanliood  tells  all  of  you  that 
I  aiu  rii^Hit  ;  and  you  all  likewise  know  thai  I  do 
not  ask  from  you  more  than  I  try  to  do  myself — 
more  than  is  due  to  your  own  natures,  if  you  would 
be  genuine  men.  I  do  not  want  any  one  to  join  us 
who  is  not  anxious  to  make  the  very  best  of  him- 
self; I  despise  the  half-and-half  sort  as  mueli  as 
the  utterly  ij^noble. " 

''  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  you  will  find  it  hard 
to  cntiec  any  of  us  to  back  out  of  this,  no  ni:it  ter 
what  vour  terms  are  ;  von  have  a  knack  of  slilf- 
ening  one's  moral  backbone,  that  is — well,  to  say 
the  least,  uncanny,''  Will  liimilton  said,  soberly. 

''  If  you  get  your  moral  stiflfenin^^  only  throu.;;h 
me,  I  fear  that  it  won't  amount  to  much." 

''  You  are  mistaken  there,  I  am  certain.  Why, 
my  own  mother  would  not  recognize  me  as  her 
boy  if  she  could  look  me  through  and  through  to 
the  very  bottom  of  my  soul — but  it  may  not  all 
be  due  to  vou." 

This  was  from  one  of  the  most  silent  members. 
The  look  Alan  bestowed  upon  him  meant  more 
than  speech  just  then.  The  eyes,  perhaps,  always 
tell  the  truth,  while  the  lips  sometimes  say  more 
and  often  less,  since  our  deepest  thoughts  ever  re- 
main unuttered. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year  quite  a  few  students 
solicited  admission,  although  they  must  needs 
s?ver   their   connection  with   another   soeietv   in 


'4^ 


AT  SEA 


89 


order   to  subscribe  to  the   rules  which  the  new 
society  so  reli;^iously  adhered  to. 

Some  of  the  professors,  when  accounts  of  this 
Uvw  club  readied  them,  indulL;eil  in  mill  sar- 
casm; others  approviu'^ly  admired  the  youth 
wlio  dared  to  be  singular,  and  whose  very  fear- 
lessness won  for  him  a  recotiniliou  that  fcvv  others 
could  boa->t.  The  professors  who  had  perpetrated 
their  witticisms  respectini^  the  club,  did  not  re- 
peat the  offense,  for  with  Alan  his  teachers  as 
well  as  his  laundress  were  hum  m  bein;4s,  and 
it  was  onl\'  their  individual  worth,  and  not  their 
position,  which  coniman  led  liis  rcs[)ect,  and  by 
degrees  his  professors  learnv-d  this  fajt  and  when 
dealing  with  him  presumed  little  upon  their  po- 
sitions. 

Nature  generally  accommodates  herself  to  the 
exigencies  of  circumstance,  and  as  there  is  no  es- 
pecial demand  for  heroes  at  the  present  day  the 
market  is  not  glutted.  Hence,  when  a  moral  hero, 
conscientious  and  entirely  fearless,  does  step  down 
among  his  fellows,  they  usually  persecute  him  or 
place  him  on  a  pedestal,  be  he  i);er  or  peasant, 
and  tlie  Brown  stndent-i  were  not  an  exception  to 
the  general  rule.  Alan,  f  )r  the  most  part,  pre- 
ferred the  former  treatment  since  it  accorded  bet- 
ter with  his  estimate  of  his  own  worth. 

Commencement  exercises  ovc;,  Alan  went  back 
to  Deeplawn.     The  place  seemed  lonely  and  Mr. 


90  tup:    MAvSTKk  OK    DHKPUAWN 

Dollivcr  was  evidently  ncarin.i;  his  loii*^  lioiiic,  for 
his  excursions  now  seldom  extended  raithcr  than 
old  Adam's  cottaj^e,  while  a  social  nieetinj^  in  the 
kitchen  at  Deejilawn  constituted  his  public  exer- 
cises. Mrs.  Dixon  had  yielded  so  fir  to  his  en- 
treaties for  a  place  to  hold  the  meetiui^s  as  to  open 
the  kitchen,  and  Alan  very  speedily  transferred  it 
to  one  of  the  spacious  unused  rooms.  Here  the 
people  of  the  nei<;hborhoo(l  would  assemble  and 
I  heaven  secmetl  to  lliem  nearer  because  of  the  beau- 

i;,  tiful   room   in  which  thev  met.     It  wa-;  a  iov  to 

(  the  a.i^ed  minister  to  recline  in  an  invalid-chair 

and  j;ive  the  direction  of  the  meclinj;  to  Alan  and 
f  io   he.ir   that   voice   explain  God's  word   to    the 

eai^^or  listeners. 

Alan  was  very  busy  the  first  week  or  two,  and 
then  he  went  to  Providence  to  ])nt  in  execution  a 
project  already  successfudy  under  way.  Durinj^ 
the  year,  he  had  spoken  from  time  to  time  with  so 
much  enthusiasm  of  his  Ne\vf)undland  ex[)eri- 
cnces,  that  each  niemb.r  of  the  club  would  j^-ladly 

ihave  joined  him  in  a  second  expedition.  vSouie 
of  them,  however,  had  their  own  way  lo  make  in 
th.'  world,  and  the  necessity  to  earn  money  duriiiL; 
the  vacation  forced  them  in  another  direction,  but 
there  were  some  of  them  who  eu|L.^a_l;•ed  to  be  ready 
early  in  July. 

Alan  had  persuaded  th  .'Ui  each  to  h-  willini^  to 
take  a   proley^e,  selected  from  the  unsavory  (piar- 


AT  SKA 


91 


ter  of  Providence.  He  had  been  employed  in  the 
shuns  (hiring;  tlie  past  year,  and  he  had  (U)nc 
ninch  o^ood  work.  Now  he  saw  ! he  way  opLii  to 
set  otiiers  workin<r,  bnt,  to  his  regret,  not  very  will- 
in,i;ly  on  the  pait  of  some,  and  he  felt  certain  that 
if  the  stndent-;  tliL-mselvcs  slionM  fail  to  j^et  any 
moral  benefit  ont  <jf  the  partnership,  the  ill-con- 
ditioned lads  wonld  certainly  be  heljied. 

He  had  tlionj^ht  the  matter  ont  very  carefnlly^ 
and  had  reached  the  determination  that  no  matter 
who  joined  the  expedition,  a  certain  nnniber  of 
tho-e  poor  boys  shonld  have  one  snmnier  to  look 
back  upon  with  satisfaction.  If  he  conld  j^et  rich 
yonni;-  men  to  share  the  bnrden,  so  mncli  tlie  bet- 
ter in  every  way,  for  he  '"onld  find  nse  for  every 
spare  dollar  of  his  income  in  the  qnarter  where  he 
worked.  He  did  not  expect  the  lads  to  be  of  any 
n  ^e  in  the  capacity  of  servants,  only  so  far  as  they 
mi^ht  furnish  ol)ject  lessons  in  broadenin*^  the 
sympathies  of  their  respective  patrons  and  teach- 
in<^  them  the  common  brothcriiood  of  man,  with 
the  privile.i^e  all  may  have  of  servinj^  others. 

Alan  secured  the  boys  and  attended  to  their 
outfits  and  other  matters  connected  with  the  jonr- 
ney.  When  they  finally  assembled  on  the  train 
for  Boston,  where  some  of  the  yonn,^'  men  were  to 
join  them  an  1  the  eiilire  party  wonld  take  the 
boat  for  St.  John's,  tiiey  were  pnzzicd  to  know 
wliicii  to  admire  most,  themselves  in  lividnally, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1 1 

92 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEKPLAWN 


or  each  other,  so  great  had  been  the  transformation 
wiunirht  by  the  barber  and  tailor. 

Alan  disliked  extremely  causing  unnecessary 
pain  in  lieai^  that  had  known  so  little  of  any- 
thing else,  and  he  fancied  that  if  the  young  men 
were  permitted  to  choose  their  own  body-guard 
the  last  ones  chosen  might  have  their  feelings 
hurt  and  so  he  decided  upon  the  device  used  by 
the  eleven  disciples,  and  when  they  were  well  un- 
der way  and  were  steaming  out  toward  the  open 
sea,  he  collected  the  entire  party  on  deck  and  pro- 
ceeded to  get  matters  satisfactorily  arranged. 
Each  boy's  name  was  written  on  a  slip  of  paper 
and  put  in  a  hat ;  then  the  young  men  each  drew 
out  a  slip  in  turn.  The  boys  watched  the  pro- 
ceedings much  more  anxiously  than  the  others 
would  have  guessed.  From  a  very  early  period, 
indeed  as  far  back  as  their  memory  carried  them, 
they  had  been  forced  to  look  after  themselves,  for 
the  most  part,  and  as  they  had  never  had  the  privi- 
lege, to  any  great  extent,  of  studying  nature  outside 
the  city  parks,  they  had  confined  themselves  largely 
to  what  was  most  familiar  in  their  lives,  their  fel- 
low-creatures, and  in  this  way  were  experts  in 
gauging  human  character  by  the  face.  Those  who 
came  last  were  the  most  jubilant,  since  each  one 
was  ambitious  to  become  Alan's  special  factotum, 
and  his  hand  had  not  yet  been  put  in  the  hat.  A 
freckled-faced,  tawny-haired  youth  stood  looking 


'i 


^^WSlBB 


AT  SEA 


93 


with  orratified  interest  at  Alan  as  lie  drew  the  one 
remaining  slip  from  the  hat. 

"I  guess  it's  not  worth  while  looking  at  the  slip, 
for  I  belongs  to  you,  anyway,"  the  boy  remarked, 
showing  as  he  smiled,  a  mouth  full  of  white,  even 
teeth.  "  It's  worth  while  waitin'  to  the  last  to 
have  such  luck.  Mayn't  I  shine  yer  boots  right 
away  ?  "  he  inquired,  as  he  edged  up  affectionately 
to  his  new  master,  quite  indifferert  to  the  glances, 
more  or  less  vindictive,  from  eleven  pairs  of  eyes. 
Alan  glanced  down  at  his  shoes,  which  were  cer- 
tainly very  dusty,  for  he  had  been  out  since  early 
morning  and  the  streets  had  been  only  wind-swept. 
The  request  was  granted  a  little  later  when  they 
went  to  the  stateroom  to  prepare  for  dinner.  The 
satisfaction  of  the  hungry  boys  was  really  infec- 
tious when  they  learned  that  the  delicious  odors 
floating  up  from  the  kitchen  came  from  their  own 
dinner  in  course  of  preparation. 

"  Can  us  fellers  have  every  bit  as  much  as  we 
can  eat  ?  "  Alan's  youthful  esquire  asked,  as  he 
drew  his  head  in  the  staterooii  door  for  the  twen- 
tieth time,  after  regaling  his  olfactories  with  the 
odor. 

''  Why,  certainly.  Is  that  such  an  unusual  ex- 
perience with  you  ?  " 

"  I  guess  it  is  ;  we  never  gets  just  as  much  first- 
rate  vittels  as  we  can  eat,  only  when  rich  f  )lks 
gives  us  a  spread,  and  that's  not  more'n  once  or 


94 


THE  MASTKR  OF   DKEPLAWN 


twice  a  year.  It's  tiresome,  the  gnawiii'  one  gets 
in  their  stuniinick  most  of  the  time,  but  we  never 
forgets  the  taste  of  good  vittels  after  once  we've 
et  them." 

Alan  had  been  present  at  one  of  tho-^e  charity 
feasts  during  the  winter,  and  was  amused  at  the 
way  the  children  seemed  to  enjoy  the  repast.  He 
decided  to  be  a  witness  of  the  feast  the  boys 
were  to  have  that  day.  They  were  to  have  a  side 
table  all  to  themselves,  after  the  others  were 
through,  when  the  remains  of  the  dinner  were  to 
be  served  up  to  them.  His  friends  had  drawn  the 
line  at  regaling  their  retainers  in  first-class  style. 
The  poor  fellows  found  it  very  tedious  as  they 
waited  on  deck  for  their  siuumons  to  dinner. 
Everything  was  in  readiness  at  last  and  Alan 
himself  went  to  call  them;  his  own  boy,  who  re- 
sponded to  the  name  of  Michael,  led  the  way. 
Already  he  was  assuming  patronizing  airs  because 
of  his  good  fortune  in  the  matter  of  a  master. 

"Is  it  all  et  up?"  heasked,  anxiously ;  "tlie>'ve 
been  that  long  we  was  afraid  there'd  not  be  a  bite 
left  for  us." 

"There  will  be  plenty  for  all  of  you." 

"  Hooray."  He  niunnured  his  satisfaction  softly, 
but  it  was  none  the  less  genuine.  Alan  was  still 
young-hearted  enough  to  enjoy  it  all,  and  sat  at  a 
table  some  distance  away,  but  which  commanded 
an  excellent  view  of  the  group  as  they  were  pre- 


AT  SKA  n- 


sided  over  by  a  couple  of  waiters.  The  rapidity 
with  which  the  roast  beef,  ham,  vegetables,  entrees, 
and  dessert  disappeared  would  have  been  aniazii  c^r 
to  any  one  unacquainted  with  the  stowinir  ca])ac^- 
ity  of  half-starved  boys;  some  of  tlie  food  was 
already  on  the  way  into  solid  tissue,  it  seemed  to 
Alan,  before  the  feast  was  ended. 

"Now  we  can  most  hold  out  till  we  get  to  the 
end  of  our  voyage,"  Mike  remarked,  as  he  moved 
back  from  the  table.  "  Boys,  that  was  better  nor 
an>-  Christmas  feast ;  I  never  knowed  thev  could 
make  vittcls  up  so  good.  My,  but  mustn't  it  be 
fine  to  be  rich  and  have  heaps  of  money ! " 

"  Me  fayther  says  it's  the  rich  find  it'a  sorrer  to 
be  lavin'  this  world,  and  the  young  gintlemin  van- 
der  '11   be   lavin'    hapes  of  money."     Augustine 
McGuire  was  the  speaker,  and  he  looked  across  at 
Alan,  who  just  then  appeared   absorbed  in  his 
book.     "It's  moighty  quare,"  Augustine  contin- 
tied,  "what  good  hearts  the  heretics  do  be  havin'; 
wan  would  tliink  they  was  as  good  as  the  praists 
jest   to  see  the  way  they  do  be  a  conductin'  av 
themselv-s  by  ordinary. "     Augustine  was  unable 
to  move  rapidly,  so  he  settled  into  a  chair  and 
looked  around  with  an  air  of  perfect  content.     But 
Mike,  who  had  been  reared  in  lesG  orthodox  fash- 
ion, stood  up  manfully  for  the  heretics  in  general 
and  Alan  Rivers  in  particular.     He  belonged  to 
the  second  generation  in  the  line  of  Aniedcan- 


96 


THE   MASTER   OF   DKKPT.AWX 


born   citizens,  and    had    lost  a  good  deal   of  the 
original  faith  of  his  forefathers. 

''  Priests  !"  he  exclaimed,  contcniDtnonslv. 
"Me  fatlier  said,  and  he  knows  more  thin  any 
fellow  among  ye,  that  not  an  archbishop  in  the 
lot  lid  do  as  much  fur  us  as  my  young  gentleman 
yander.  I'm  i;oing  to  grow  up  just  like  him,  so 
I  am,"  and  ]\Iike  straightened  himself  as  well  as 
the  circu  =  .ances  would  allow  and  looked  defi- 
antly at  Augustine  ;  but  the  good  dinner  had  such 
a  mellowing  effect  that  the  peace  was  only  slightly 
ruffled,  while  Mike  satisfied  himself  with  a  few 
threats  if  any  of  them  dared  to  call  his  young 
gentleman  a  heretic  any  more.  As  Mike  was  one 
of  the  best  pugilists  of  his  size  in  their  set,  lii.s  re- 
marks were  generally  very  respectfully  received. 
The  boys  sat  for  some  time  quietly  watching  the 
passengers  who,  for  the  most  part,  were  pushing 
about  as  restlessly  as  if  business  matters  still  pur- 
sued them  on  shipboard.  An  occasional  remark 
reached  Alan  from  the  group,  and  contrary  to  the 
adage,  "  listeners  never  hear  any  good  of  them- 
selves," whenever  his  character  was  under  discus- 
sion one  of  the  calendar  saints  could  not  have 
been  mentioned  more  honorably. 

They  were  all  in  that  transition  stage  of  their 
affections  when  filial  love  ceases  to  absorb  the 
faculties,  and  the  other  passion  which  comes,  soon 
or  late,  to  well-regulated  youths  of  both  sexes,  had 


*IL1 


AT  SEA  Q^ 

not  seized  them.    Just  at  that  period  thev  were 
more  inciined  to  hero  worship,  their  hero  takiiio- 
the  shape  of  some  stalwart  specimen  of  their  own 
sex.     Since  Alan  filled    the  reqnirements  better 
than  anyone  they  knew,  he  came  in  for  a  larjre 
share  of  their  boyish  admiration.     It  was  no  sp^'e- 
cial  gain  to    him,  bnt  of  inestimable  benefit  to 
them,  for  the  very  o-ood  reason  that  imitation  is 
natural  to  most  yonng  creatures,  and  they  one  and 
all  privately  adopted  him  for  their  model ;  even  Au- 
gustine, whose  voice  had  few  svmpathetic,  musi- 
cal chords,  tried  his  best  to  modulate  its  harshness 
and  speak. in  the  quiet  way  habitual  to  Mr.  Rivers. 
They  were  used  to  activity,  and  the  sense  of  full- 
ness soon  wore  off  as  the  tiny  builders  engaged 
in  their  internal  mechanism,  seizing  with  avidity 
the  unusual  supplies,  soon  worked  them  up  into 
blood,  so  that  long  before  the  odor  from  the  sup- 
per in  preparation  began  to  mingle  with  the  salty 
atmosphere,  they  were  swarming  over  every  ac- 
cessible part  of  the  ship  and  meditating  on  other 
achievements    than   fashioning   their  characters 
after  their  benefactor.     The  sailors  looked  askance 
at  these  boys,  whose  faces  and  speech  betrayed 
their  origin,  and  some  of  them  condescended  to 
inquire  what  might  be  the  object  of  their  expedi- 
tion. 

"  We've  come  to  take  care  of  them  young  gents 
you  see  who  go  together  mostly— the  good  look- 

Q 


r.S 


Till-:    MA.STlvR   OF    DlCKl'I.AWN 


!JJ 


iiU4'cst  \()n\'c  f^{)t  on  board.  They're  s\v^  11  chaps, 
I  can  tell  you,"  Alike  explained,  proudly  ;  "  and 
We're  goin;^  to  a  fine  large  island  off  sonicwhercs, 
and  we're  going  to  kill  things  and  live  outdoors." 

"  I  should  say  you'd  be  a  sight  more  care  than 
help.  What  do  you  city  chaps  know  about  rough- 
in;,;'  it  in  camps,  and  cooking  your  food  over  a  fire, 
and  handling  canoes?" 

''  I  guess  we  roughs  it  enough  in  the  city  to 
kn  )w  how  to  do  it  anywheres.  Why  some  of  us 
fellers  don't  have  any  homes  at  all,  just  sleeps  by 
the  night  when  we've  got  the  change,  and  when 
we  haven't  crawls  in  anywheres;  even  steals  a 
chance  in  the  big  churches  sometimes.  But 
them's  the  fine  places  to  sleep  in  of  a  cold  winter's 
night,  over  a  register,  or  on  a  cushion  somewhere, 
only  it  kind  of  spiles  you  for  nights  when  you 
ain't  got  such  privileges."  Mike  had  a  fine  ])air 
of  eyes,  but  just  now  they  looked  dreamy  and 
sad  as  he  reflected  on  what  lav  behind  them,  and 
anticipated  also  what  probably  awaited  them 
when  another  winter  should  have  them  in  its 
chilly  grasp. 

'•  I  wish  we  could  go  e  sailing  here  for  ever 
and  ever,  amen,"  the  feeblest-looking  of  the  group 
said,  wistfully.  He  had  a  racking  cough,  and  re- 
sponded when  addressed,  which  was  not  often,  to 
the  name  of  Daudv  Dingwell.  His  comrades  did 
not   esteem    him   above   his  value  ;   he   was  not 


i 


i 


AT  SKA 


99 


^ 


Strong  ciiouirli  to  liold  his  own  in  a  fight  or  game, 
and  in  addition  to  these  physical  defects  he  had  a 
tronblesonie  thing  for  any  slunimer,  wliether  man 
or  boy,  a  sensitive  conscience.  His  mother  was  a 
widow  and  a  Protestant,  which  also  told  against 
them  in  tlie  neighborhood.  He  was  the  oldest  of 
four  and  had  to  do  more  than  his  share  to  keep 
starvation  from  their  one  room.  Such  a  day  as 
this  he  had  not  dreamed  of  as  among  the  possi- 
bilities of  this  problem  he  called  life,  whicli  ap- 
peared to  him  a  constant  fight  to  keep  soul  and 
body  in  touch. 

He  followed  the  boys  around,  but  always  at  the 
end  of  the  procession,  sometimes  considerably  in 
their  rear,  for  his  eyes  seemed  to  look  deeper  inio 
tilings  and  required  a  longer  time  to  explore  what- 
ever strange  or  delightful  might  greet  them.  To- 
day there  had  been  so  many  of  the  latter  to  hold 
him  that  now  arid  then  he  had  to  take  a  short  cut 
to  catch  up  with  them,  but  he  was  content,  know- 
ing there  were  other  days  for  more  leisurely  sur- 
vey. 

There  was  one  melancholy  note  in  what  would 
otherwise  have  been  perfect  harmony,  as  he  re- 
membered his  mother  and  little  sisters  in  the 
stifling  room  at  home  ;  the  dinner  they  must 
eat;  the  stitch,  stitch,  through  the  long  hours 
on  work  overlooked  by  men  on  the  pattern 
of  the   old-time   slave  drivers— for   they  labored 


lOO 


THK   MASTKR   OF   DRKPI.AWN 


iiiuler  t  e  sweating;'  system.  He  was  only  a  boy, 
however,  and  could  not  always  be  tliinkinj^-  about 
others,  so  he  was,  on  the  whole,  very  happy  that 
day.  The  ^nawing  at  his  stomach,  which  made 
that  organ  a  troublesomely  conscious  part  of  his 
anatomy  most  of  the  time,  had  bet  n  less  pro- 
nounced since  dinner  than  lor  some  weeks  past — 
indeed,  ever  since  his  cough  had  been  keeping 
him  awake  at  night  and  weakening  him  by  day. 
After  a  few  more  such  dinners  he  felt  pretty  cer- 
tain the  object  that  was  gnawing  so  industriously 
would  get  satisfied  and  stop. 

They  had  grouped  themselves  at  last  on  the 
hurricane-deck  and  were  discussing  matters  in 
general,  while  they  watched  the  distant  sails  dip- 
ping out  of  sight,  or  others  coming  up  from  the 
mysterious  underworld  of  waters.  The  sim  was 
sinking  toward  the  west  in  a  gorgeous  bank  of 
opal,  amethyst,  and  ruby-colored  clouds,  the  ves- 
sels near-by  catching  in  their  white  sails  these 
wonderful  tints  and  reflecting  them  in  the  water 
below,  while  under  all  the  great  sea  lay,  like  a 
tender  mother,  bearing  them  on  her  bosom. 

Dandy — the  boys  had  given  him  this  name  be- 
cause his  face  and  hands  were  generally  clean  and 
his  hair  well  combed — did  not  listen  very  par- 
ticularly to  their  rambling  talk,  but  was  going 
over  in  his  mind  those  last  chapters  in  the  Reve-  '* 
lation,  of  that  city  built  of  gold  and  pearl  which 


' 


AT  SEA 

x^as,  wl,>  folks  were  not  more  willing  to  go  there 
or  to  have  their  friends.     His  motherrfor  fnst.ce' 

seemed  fiightened  it  any  of  them  were  siek   le'st 
ti.ey  should  die ;  for  his  own  part,  dea  h  e'oU 
never  seen,  other  than  a  friend   no;  that  he    id 
this  ghmpse  of  God  through  his  sky 

He  was  bronght  back  fron.  his  reverie  bv 
sonndsofa  sharp  altercation  between  two  of  the 
boys ;   one  of  then,  an  Italian  nan.ed  Ansel    o 

lensk>.  They  too,  by  some  means,  had  drifted 
mto  sp.ntnal  con.numings  which  ended  „  a 
con,ro^.ersy,  and  when  Dandy  beean.e  console  of 
what  was  going  on  they  had  clinched  and  were 
tO".g,  m  the  fierceness  of  their  religions  z  al  to 
back  one  another  off  the  deck.  Tht  other  bovs 
were  ook.ng  on  with  much  .satisfaction  Ss 
was  the  one  accustomed  pleasure  of  their  lives 

to  be  a  fitting  close  to  this  otherwise  perfect  dav 
Dandy  ,,,3  te„ifi^j  .  ,_^  _^^^^^  look  ,1,1'; 

comlort.     Here  there  were  no  police  to  interfere 
b ut  somethmg  more  terrifying,  'that  beauti  u  !„; 
tieachoroiis  ocean. 

"  Oh,  boys,  don't,  don't !  "  he  screamed,  rushing 


I02 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


to  draw  tlieiii  back  to  the  center  of  the  deck  ;  l)ut 
his  strength  was  too  pnny  to  match  theirs. 

Mike  was  watchinji^  critically.  Ganging  their 
strength  and  his  own  he  decided  there  wonld  be 
no  difficulty  at  the  right  moment  of  flinging  them 
back  aniids]ii[)s  and  so  save  the  excitement  of  a 
spla'^h  overboard.  Dandy,  finding  he  conld  not 
save  them,  in  his  terror  dashed  down  tlie  steps  to 
bring  some  one  that  conld,  while  Mike  started  to 
intercept  him,  leaving  the  combatants  to  their 
fate,  which  seemed  a  dangerons  one,  as  the\-  were 
very  near  the  side  of  the  steamship.  Jnst  then 
Alan  stepped  np,  and  before  the  boys  knew  he 
was  in  sight,  he  was  holding  them  at  arm's  length, 
his  eyes  blazing  with  indignation. 

*'  I  have  seen  what  has  been  going  on  and,  with 
the  exception  of  Dingwell,  ^hcre  is  nothing  to 
choose  between  you.  I  waited  a  few  moments  to 
see  if  there  was  not  a  single  spark  of  manliness  in 
any  of  you." 

Mike  was  standing  at  the  head  of  the  stairs, 
looking  as  much  a  culprit  as  any. 

"  For  this,  every  one  of  you  shall  be  punished  ; 
these  two  most  severely  for  they  shall  go  to  bed 
supperless ;  the  others,  with  the  exception  of 
Dingwell,  shall  have  only  bread  and  milk.  The 
next  time  audi  a  scene  occurs  your  punishment 
will  not  be  so  light." 

He  turned  and  left  them  to  meditate  at  their 


Ar  SKA  103 

leisure.  Perhaps  it  was  not  a  judicious  mode  of 
treatment  for  halt-starved  boys,  but  he  was  an<>Ty 
and  HI  no  mood  to  ar-ue  with  them.  They  tit 
re-arding  each  other  stupidly  for  a  short  time 
then,  as  the  odor  of  broiled  chicken  and  beefsteak 
came  floatino:  up  from  those  lowx^r  re-ions  they 
reahzed  the  comforts  they  had  forfeited. 

''  Say,  boys,  what  do  you  s'])ose  he'll  do  that'll 
be  worse  tlian  to  stop  our  vittels  ?  "  Anselmo  asked 
a<rliast.  ' 

"  I  don't  know  what  /w^//  do,  but  I  can  tell  vou 
what  /'//  do,  you  sneakin'  furriners,  if  you  s'ton 
our  supplies  again  !  "   Mike  declared  with  a  vim 
that  made  the  weak-nerved  Anselmo  resolve  that 
he,  for  one,  would  not  incur  that  double  punish- 
ment     Daudy  had  a  thrill  of  self-riohteous  satis- 
faction  pulsate  throu-h  his  attenuated  frame  •  he 
had  so  few  thrills  of  any  kind  but  cold  and  fear 
tliat  It  was  quite  a  new  sensaticm,    but    it    was 
short-lived;    eleven  jealous   pairs   of    eyes    were 
presently  turned  upon  him. 

"Dandy's  .croiii<r  to  get  all  the  good  thin-s- 
that's  not  fair,"  Anselmo  whined.  It  was  a  family 
trait  to  covet  anything  they  saw  going  to  an- 
other unless  it  might  be  poverty  or  pain,  and 
Anselmo  had  frdlen  heir  to  a  full  share  of  this 
miforlunate  characteristic.  To  go  to  bed  supper- 
ess  would  not  be  so  bad  if  another  of  his  comrades 
had  not  been  feasting  in  his  place.     Dandy  was 


nm 


104 


THE  MASTKR  OK  DKRPLAWN 


silent;  long  ago  he  had  discovered  that  <  his  was 
tlie  wisest  way  for  him  to  accept  reproacli,  but  as 
tlie  boys  discussed  their  grievances,  he  regretted 
that  he  too  had  not  been  inchided  in  tlie  prohi- 
bition, since  going  without  his  supper  after  that 
superb  diuner  would  have  been  a  very  mild 
infliction.  He  walked  sorrowfully  away.  As  he 
descended  the  steps  he  cast  a  lingering  glance 
over  sky  and  sea,  thinking  how  much  better  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem  was  after  all,  since  within  its 
gates  there  is  nothing  but  peace. 

The  bo}-s  followed  him  presently,  and  together 
they  filed  past  the  sr^pper  tables,  filled  with  men 
and  women  busy  discussing  the  good  things 
which  they  too  might  presently  have  shared  but 
for  the  little  unpleasantness  of  a  few  minutes  ago. 


i 


] 
I 


! 


CHAPTER  IX 

ANSELMO 

A  LAN  certainly  did    not  enjoy  his  own  snp- 
^  ^     per,    thinking    of    the    disappointed    lads 
and    wished    that    he   had    devised    some   other 
mode  of  pnnishing   tliein.     He  was   natnrallv  a 
strict  disciplinarian,  and  conld  not  easily  break 
his  word  either  in  the  matter  of  reward  or  punish- 
ment ;  but  as  he  caught  a  oli„,p,e  now  and  then 
ot  a  r.kulkino-  fistful   face  peering  at  the  well- 
spread  tables,  his  purpose  wavered.     Leavin<r  his 
own   supper  half  eaten,  he  arose   and   beck'oned 
them  to  follow  him  to  a  quiet  part  of  the  deck. 
He  then  asked : 

"  Who  of  you  are  sorry  for  what  you  have 
done?  He  looked  around  at  the  group  Up 
went  Dandy  Dingwell's  hand,  but  no  one  else  re- 
sponded. 

"Put  down  your  hand,  Dingwell,  for  you  have 
nothing  to  be  sorry  for." 

"  He's  nothin'  but  asneakin'  heretic,"  Anselmo 
muttered.  He  was  able  to  speak  the  English  of 
the  streets  as  readily  as  a  descendant  of  the  Puri- 
tans. Alan  heard  the  remark,  but  held  his  oath- 
ering  wrath  in  restraint  as  he  continued  :       "" 

I  OS 


;l 


Io6  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

"  Boys,  I  want  you  to  understand  tliat  I  aui  not 
takint;  you  on  this  holiday  excursion  for  my  own 
pleasure,  by  any  means,  and  my  friends  were  even 
less  eaj^er  to  have  you  than  I.  I  think  it  is  only 
fair  that  we  should  understand  each  other  fully. 
Von  are,  some  of  you,  at  least,  old  enough  to  have 
.some  manly  principles.  Now,  let  me  tell  you 
plainly,  that  if  I  find  you  incorrigibly  un,i^rateful 
and  wicked,  or  if  you  trespass  upon  my  patience 
beyond  a  certain  limit,  I  will  send  you  back  by 
this  boat." 

As  he  looked  at  them  he  saw  a  relaxin<T;  of  the 
muscles  of  their  f  ices.  That  this  was  the  «^Teater 
punishment  in  store  for  them,  of  which  he  had 
spoken,  was  the  thought  uppermost  in  each  mind. 

"I  know  you  have  had  little  opportunity  to 
learn  how  to  be  true,  and  vSo  I  feel  the  more  sorry 
for  you.  (iod  has  been  better  to  me,  giving  me  a 
good  home,  and  more  than  that  the  liible,  which 
has  been  kept  from  most  of  you.  The  only  way 
we  can  make  return  to  God  is  to  love  him  and  to 
help  others.  Now  do  you  understand  why  it  is 
that  I  take  so  much  trouble  for  you?" 

He  waited  for  a  repl}',  but  they  stood  stolidly 
gazing  at  him,  with  the  excei)tion  of  Dandy  Ding- 
well. 

"  Please,  sir,  that's  just  the  wa)-  mother  talks," 
he  said,  his  face  shining  with  joy.  "  She  loves 
the  Bible  and  prays  every  day  right   up  to   the 


ANSELMO 


T07 


Lord.  Slie  says  it's  only  God  and  the  livinir 
saints  tliaL's  any  good  to  help  people  on  the 
earth." 

Alan  tnrned  to  him  with  his  own  face  snddenh 
ilhiniincd. 

"  I  nnderstand  now  why  you  are  different  from 
these  lads,"  he  said;  -it  is  because  you  have  a 
Christian  mother  and  the  Bible." 

Anselmo  clenched  his  fist;  he  wanted  to  fiojit 
with  some  one,  but  prudence  got  the  better  of  his 
religious  valor.     "  I  could  not  finish  mv  supper 
thinking  of  you,"  he  went  on.     ''I  want  to  do 
you  good,  and  to   help  >ou  to  soinetliiiu.-  better 
than  the  wretched  lives  before  you.     Woii't  you 
try  with  me?     I  would  make  you  good  myself  if 
T  were  able,  but  you  alone  can  do  tiiat,  G(>d  help- 
ing yon.     Now,  will  you  all  promise  me  to  trv 
very  hard  to  be  good  bo>'s  if  I  take  xou  to  the 
table,  and  allow  the  waiter  to  let  voi/have  any- 
tbiiig  you  wish?     If  I  get  out  of' patience  with 
you  at  any  time  I  want  you  to  foro-ive  me;  I  am 
only  a  young  fellow  myself  and   have  had  very 
little  experience  with  other  boys." 

Mike  stepped  out,  and  seizing  Alan's  hand,  im- 
pulsively exclaimed  :  -  I'll  try  to  be  good,  and  I'll 
make  tlie  rest  of  'em  toe  the  mark  too." 
"No  you  won't,  neither,"  Anselmo  snarled 
Alan  turned  to  him:  -  Won't  you  promise  to 
be  a  better  boy  if  I  forgive  you  now?" 


Io8  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPT.AWN 

"  He's  not  going  to  make  me  good,  I  can  be 
that  without  him." 

"  I  shall  be  sorry  to  send  you  back  alone  in  the 
steamer,  I^agoni,  but  rather  than  keep  you  with 
us  to  disturb  the  other  lads,  I  shall  do  it,  and  be- 
caus«^  I  modify  my  promise  now,  do  not  presume 
that  I  shall  do  it  again." 

He  turned  to  speak  to  Jacob  Molensky,  but 
happening  to  glance  in  Anselmo's  direction,  inter- 
cep!:ed  a  most  sardonic  expression ;  for  the  boy 
was  twisting  his  face  out  of  shape  in  order  to  dis- 
play his  malice. 

"  You  have  forfeited  your  supper,  to-night,  La- 
.^oni,  and  in  all  probability  you  will  be  back  in 
your  old  home  in  a  few  days  into  the  bargain." 
Alan  spoke  sternly  ;  all  pity  for  the  vicious  bit  of 
humanity,  for  the  time  being,  dying  out  of  his 
heart. 

Anselmo  set  up  a  loud  howl  which  brought  him 
a  box  on  the  ears  from  a  deck-hand,  shortly  after 
the  others  had  gone  into  the  saloon.  He  was 
forced  to  nurse  his  wrath  and  the  aching  ear  in 
silence  after  that,  but  he  meditated  some  means 
of  reveno-ino:  himself  on  some  one.  Dandv  Dinsf- 
well  was  the  most  promising  subject  because  of 
his  physical  weakness  and  his  heretical  faith. 
He  studied  the  matter  chiefly  in  reference  to  him. 
Meanwhile  poor  Dandy  plied  his  kuile  and  fork 
to  such  good  purpose  that  for  the  second  time  that 


ANSRI.MO 


IvOg 


day  a  very  comfortable  fccliiifi;-  came  over  him. 
vSome  half-hour  later  a  party  of  very  contented 
lads  fded  out  on  deck  and  joined  Ansehno,  whose 
wrath  was  at  white  heat,  as  he  saw  them  leisurely 
walkin,^;  to  and  fro  like  the  guests  he  had  seen  in 
the  fashionable  hotels. 

"  Get  out  of  this,"  he  snarled,  as  they  drew 
near  to  him.  When  he  found  they  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  his  command  he  arose  to  leave  them. 
Just  as  he  passed  through  the  door  he  felt  his  coat 
pulled,  and  swinging  around  to  bestow  a  blow,  he 
caught  sight  of  Dandy's  outstretched  hand,  in 
which  lay  a  piece  of  temptingly  frosted  cake. 

"  It's  my  own.  I  didn't  steal  it,  but  kept  it  for 
you,"  he  whispered. 

''I  won't  have  your  old  cake,"  Anselmo  de- 
clared, viciously,  but  nevertheless  eyed  the  cake 
longingly. 

"They  are  awful  good,  the  boys  said,"  Dandy 
suggested,  still  keeping  the  tempting  object  in 
view.  It  was  second  nature  with  him  to  share  any 
good  thing  with  others,  and  just  now  Anselmo  aj> 
pealed  the  most  strongly  to  his  sympathies. 

A  moment  after,  the  cake  was  seized  without  a 
word  of  thanks,  and  he  was  left  standing  alone  by 
the  door.  He  did  not  know  that  his  kindly  act 
had  been  noticed  by  more  than  one  pair  of  eyes, 
but  he  turned  back  with  a  happy  heart  to  the 
group  of  boys  sitting  outside  on  the  deck  enjoy- 


no 


TIIK   MAS'IMCR  OF   DKl'PI.AWN 


iii^C,  in  im  inexpressive  sort  of  way,  tlie  far-off  do- 
hcions  o-low  of  tlie  scttin<r  snn.  It  conld  not  oe 
expected  that  they  conld  liave  other  tlian  a  dim 
appreciation  of  the  wonderfnl  panorama  spread 
before  them  ;  beauty  of  any  kind  liad  seldom  a])- 
pealed  to  their  stunted  natures,  but  perhajis  God 
keeps  some  untainted  places  in  youthful  hearts, 
no  nuitter  how  polluted  their  environment,  that 
can  respond  at  once  to  perfection  in  anv  form. 

"What  did  ye  foller  him  out  fer?"  Jacob  Mo- 
lensky  asked,  suspiciously. 

"Nothincr  much."  Dandy  tried  to  speak  in- 
difTercntly. 

"I  seed  yer  crib  the  cake,  and  ye  guv  it  tcr 
him.'' 

*'What  if  he  did?  'twas  more'n  you'd  do  for  a 
feller  as  was  as  mean  with  ye  as  he  was,"  Mike 
said,  with  a  decision  that  si-iiified  the  conversa- 
tion was  to  terminate. 

"Afore  I'd  crib  vittals  for  that  Eyetalian " 

Jacob  muttered. 

"  Ve'd  eat  it  yourself.     I  say,   we're  croing  to 
pattern  after  Dandy,  every  mother's  son  of  us,1ind 

if  ye  don't,  I'll "  i\Hke  stopped  abruptlv',   for 

Alan  was  just  then  approachin,<>-. 

He  was  beoinning  to  find  the  task  of  a  philan- 
thropist a  particularly  exasperating  one.  He  had 
just  intercepted  Anselmo  at  some  mischief  that 
no  other  than  a  street  amb   of  the  most  vicious 


ANSKI.MO 


III 


3 


procHvities  would  have  altciiipted — trviiis^  to  kin- 
dle :i  fire  oil  the  lower  dock.  Aleanwliile  he  swal- 
lowed the  cake  with  angry  vindictiveness  to  think 
it  was  so  good, and  that  so  small  a  portion  had  fallen 
to  him.  ALin  had  secured  all  his  matches  and 
set  him  down  in  the  saloon  with  the  command  not 
to  move  until  he  had  permission.  He  was  coming 
now  to  get  Mike  to  act  as  policeman  until  the  cul- 
prit could  be  trusted  alone,  a  commission  as  satis- 
factory to  Alike  as  it  was  displeasing  to  Ansel  mo. 
A  few  vigorous  strokes  from  Mike's  sinewy  fists 
did  more  in  the  way  of  immediate  amendment 
than  a  good  deal  of  moral  suasion.  There  was 
scarcely  honest  soil  enough  in  the  poor  boy's  na- 
ture for  good  seed  to  take  root  in,  and  moral 
suasion  had  hitherto  been  an  unknown  factor  in 
his  experience.  In  the  lyagoni  family  it  was  a 
blow  in  any  case,  whether  the  word  fitted  in 
or  not. 

The  following  morning  found  Anselmo  with  an 
excellent  appetite.  He  felt  much  better  natured, 
and  wdiile  waiting  to  be  let  out  of  his  room  he 
came  to  the  decision  not  to  forfeit  his  food,  no 
matter  what  the  provocation.  At  some  future 
time  there  would  be  an  opportunity  for  him  to 
take  his  revenge  without  running  the  risk  of  such 
punishment.  He  had  been  tucked  into  a  single 
stateroom  by  himself,  his  young  gentleman  posi- 
tively refusing  to  have  him.     When  Alan  came  to 


' 


112  THK   MASTICR   oF   DEKl'LAWN 

look  after  him  he  turned  liini  back  to  attend  to  his 
toilet,  a  <^ood  deal  of  acquired  grime  from  yester- 
day's investigations  adding  to  the  duskiness  of  an 
already  swarthy  complexion.  He  applied  soap 
and  water  vii^-orouslv  and  soon  came  out  smilinsf 
as  amiably  as  if  he  had  not  marred  the  harmony 
of  the  entire  party  the  preceding  day. 

By  the  exercise  of  a  strong  will-power  and  sel- 
dom-exerci  ^ed  self-control,  he  got  through  his 
breakfast  respectably,  but  to  maintain  this  out- 
ward calm  the  whole  day  through,  and  {ov  many 
succeeding  days,  struck  him  as  impossible.  From 
his  earliest  jcollection  such  an  experience  had 
not  occurred.  In  the  I^agoni  household  life  was 
made  up  of  a  series  of  storms  merely  accentuated 
by  intermittent  and  brief  calms. 

The  breakfast  was  so  perfect,  and  his  apprecia- 
tion of  it  so  extreme,  that  he  vaguely  speculated, 
as  he  filed  out  on  deck  with  the  other  boys,  if  it 
might  not  be  possible  to  hold  himself  so  far  in 
check  as  to  secure  his  share  of  good  things  the 
whole  summer  through.  He  found  a  stron^^-er 
power  than  his  own  fierce  will  holding  him,  but 
the  grip  of  habit  was  strong,  and  he  knew  if  he 
gave  way  he  certainly  would  suffer  for  it. 

Alan  too,  had  been  thinking  out  the  task  before 
him.  Anselmo  had  been  an  experiment  from  the 
first.  In  the  Italian  mission  school  the  fierce, 
uncurbed  nature  had  attracted  him.     There  were 


ANSKLMO 


113 


1 


iiiitsucli  possibilities  for  sufferincr  that  he  had 
felt  a  strong  desire  to  be  himself  the  destiny  to 
chancre  the  cnrrent  from  misery  toward  self-con- 
trolled,  hnmniized  manhood. 

He  feared  the  long,  idle  hours  on  shipboard  for 
all  tlie  boys,  but  especially  for  him.     When  once 
out  m  the  country  they  would  have  so  much  to 
niterest  them  that  he  was  sure  their  spare  ener-y 
would  not  need  to  be  exercised  in  quarrelino-     He 
had  provided  books  and  games  to  amuse  them  on 
ramy  days  and  now  decided  to  bring  some  of  them 
out.     Taking  Anselmo  with  him  to  keep  him  out 
of  mischief,  he  went   in   search  of  the   games. 
When  the  trunk  was  found  and  opened  Anselmo 
stood  With  gleaming,  covetous  eyes  lookin-  at  the 
bright-covered  books  and   boxes   containhi-  the 


games 


"  Are  tliem  all  for  us?  "  he  asked,  greedilv 
"Yes."  ''^  ^•. 

'I  Won't  you  give  me  mine  to  keep  myself  >  " 
;'  They  are  not  for  any  single  boy,  but  for  all  to 
enjoy  together." 

II I  want  some  of  them  all  to  myself,"  he  whined. 

"Anselmo,  I  want  you  to  overcome  your  covet- 
ous disposition.  Remember,  after  this  the  surest 
way  for  you  to  lose  anything  will  be  your  askincr 
^or  It.  I  mean  to  help  you  all  I  can  to  get  the 
victory  over  yourself." 

'^I  don't  care,"  he  muttered,  angrily,  but  still 

II 


n 


114  Tin-    MASTlvR    OK   DKl'PLAWN 

surveyed  the  open  trunk  with  huno^ry  eyes.  Alan 
selected  a  few  picture  books  and  frames  and  then, 
followed  by  the  boy,  went  to  join  the  others.  He 
soon  had  them  all  gathered  around  the  tables  in 
the  saloon,  taught  them  some  games,  and  then 
left  them  to  choose  between  them  and  the  books 
for  their  amusement.  For  a  while  things  went 
well,  but  after  a  while  dissatisfaction  arose  over 
the  results  of  the  games.  Each  lad,  of  course, 
wanted  to  be  on  the  winning  side  and  in  all  proba- 
bility there  would  have  been  a  repetition  of  the 
disgraceful  scene  of  the  preceding  day,  if  the  din- 
ner had  not,  about  that  time,  begun  to  send  forth 
its  fragrance. 

Alan  suggested  to  the  young  men  at  dinner  that 
each  one  should  take  his  own  h<yy^  and  look  after 
him  for  the  rest  of  the  day,  giving  a  few  lessons 
on  general  behavior  at  the  same  time,  since  they 
were  sadly  needed.  The  suggestion  did  not  re- 
ceive a  very  cordial  response,  but  they  compro- 
mised matters  by  taking  them  for  a  couple  of  liours. 

The  other  passengers  on  the  steamship  looked 
curiously  at  the  company  of  young  men  who  bore 
unmistakably,  in  dress  and  bearing,  the  mark  of 
good  breeding,  and  at  the  boys  following  them 
who,  although  their  garments  were  new,  were  as 
clearly  stamped  as  belonging  to  the  other  extreme 
of  the  social  scale.  The  captain  was  interviewtd 
by  a  good  many  on  the  subject,  to  all  of  whom  he 


1^ 


ANSKI.MO 


115 


was  forced  to  return  the  extremely  iinsatisfactor>- 
answer: 

"  It  is  that  yonn.cr  fellow  in  crray  who  seems  to 
have  them  all  in  charcre.  I  only  know  they  are  a 
lot  of  Brown  stndents  goinjr  down  to  Newfonnd- 
land  for  the  snnimer.  I  have  an  idea  that  he  is 
rclij^nons  and  is  trying  to  reform  the  entire  crowd, 
sluniniers  and  all,  bnt  I  can  tell  yon  he  has  a 
ton-h  job  on  hand,  for  there's  mischief  in  the 
wliole  lot.  I  can  see  that  as  plain  as  I  can  that 
gnlL" 

Bnt  as  the  captain  and  passengers  watched  them 
day  after  day  they  were  forced  to  admit  that  the 
yonng  fellow  in  gray  was  eqnal  to  the  task  and  had 
an  ascendency  over  stndents  and  slnnnners  alike 
that  compelled  them  to  yield  to  his  will. 

They  conld  not  comprehend  how  one  so  yonng, 
and  evidently  belonging  to  the  favored  classes' 
conld,  of  his  free  will,  assnme  snch  thankless  ser- 
vice. The  betting  class  on  board  directed  their 
attention  to  him,  and  for  some  time  qnite  heavy 
snms  of  money  were  pooled  npon  his  motive  in 
the  enterprise.  There  was  some  chagrin  and  a 
good  deal  of  perplexity  when  one,  bolder  than  the 
rest,  approached  him  with  the  inqniry  what  his 
motive  for  nndertaking  snch  a  task  really  was, 
and  was  answered  as  frankly  as  if  it  had  been 
abont  his  views  on  politics,  or  the  commonplace 
concerns  of  every  day. 


TT 


ii6 


TIIK    MASTHR  OK   DKKPI.AWN 


After  a  wliile  each  boy  hccran  to  follow  his  spe- 
cial master,  and  before  very  loii<r  tlicy  developed 
so  strong  a  pride  of  ownership  that  they  were 
ready,  at  the  slightest  provocation,  to  enter  the 
lists  in  his  favor  by  a  trial  of  their  own  strength. 

Several  bloodless  dncls  had  been  fonglit  in  ont- 
of-thc-way  parts  of  the  steamship,  when  Mike  as- 
sured them  it  was  not  worth  their  while  to  debate 
the  subject  any  longer,  since  his  Mr.  Rivers  was 
worth  all  the  rest  of  then?  put  together. 


1 


I 


,1 


1 


I 


CHAPTER  X 

WITH   GUN   AND   ROD 

T^IIKY  left  tlie  stcanisliip  at  St.  John's,  wliere 
tliey  found  Gahe  waiting  for  ^heni  He 
surveyed  tlie  l,u<re  party  douhtfullv,  espeeially 
tiic  boys,  and  assured  Alan  it  would'take  several 
canoe  loads  of  food  to  last  them  two  months,  not 
reckomnir  the  unlimited  supplies  of  fish  and  oanie 
ready  to  their  hand.  '^ 

"We  shall  take  a  lar-e  boat  for  the  boys  and 
the  provisions;  I  will  not  trust  them  to  canoes." 
It  vyill  cost  -reat  lot  of  money,"  Gabe  said, 
anxiously.  ' 

"There  arc  thirteen  of  us  to  share  the  expense. 
1  tlimk  you  will  find  us  equal  to  it." 
Gabe  shook  his  head  doubtfully.     "  You  only 

ut;.''^^  ''./■''"•     ^^^'>'  "°^  ''''''^  ^^^^t  you  say." 

We  will  see,"  was  the  calm  reply ;    and  so, 

ag:ainst  his  own  judgment,  Gabe  undertook  the 

conveyance  of    youths   and   stores   to   the  same 

camping  grounds  used  the  previous  summer. 

The  ti-ip  in  the  schooner  was  a  mixed  experi- 
ence. The  sea  was  rough  and  some  of  them  were 
sick;  the  quarters  were  crowded,  and  Alan  was 
kept  in  constant  anxiety  lest  some  of  his  charge 

117 


^^am 


ii8 


Tin<:   MASTER  OF   DKEPLA.WN 


should  fall  overboard,  as  most  of  them  ran  the 
risk  of  doin<^,  being  both  venturesome  and  ignor- 
ant of  schooner  life.  They  reached  Bonavista  at 
last,  and  every  one,  down  to  the  cook  in  the  gal- 
ley, breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  when  the  vessel  was 
tied  to  the  wharf  and  the  last  of  the  passengers 
left  the  deck. 

All  this  was  changed  when  that  same  afternoon 
they  started  inland.  The  boys  were  nearly  wild 
with  delight  as  they  rowed  up  the  winding  river. 
The  air,  unstirred  by  other  human  beings,  was  like 
a  wonderful  tonic.  The  green  depths  of  the  un- 
broken forest,  shutting  them  in  like  the  walls  of 
some  vast  cathedral,  roused  increasing  wonder  at 
the  immensity  of  nature.  They  could  scarcely 
be  convinced  that  each  hour  they  were  passing 
through  fresh  aisles  of  the  forest  cathedral. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  we're  not  winding  round 
and  coming  over  the  same  places?  I've  seen  trees 
and  rocks  like  that  a  dozen  times  to-day,"  Dandy 
said  at  last,  bewildered  utterly. 

"  Yes,  Dandy,  every  boat  length  tak?s  us  past 
trees  you  have  never  seen  before,"  Alan  assured 
him  ;  "  besides,  rivers  do  not  have  the  habit  of 
winding  around  and  doubling  upon  themselves." 

"  I  wish  we  could  come  here  and  pick  up  the 
wood,"  Anselmo  said,  covetously.  Such  waste  of 
firewood  as  he  saw  along  the  shore  was  enough  to 
make  any  boy's  heart  ache  who  was  in  the  habit 


4 


II 


I ' 


I  '' 


Tlie  Master  of  Deeplawn.  Page  119. 

,"Tlie  rest  of  the  party  proceeded  to  catch  fiah." 


WITH  GUN   AND   ROD 


119 


^^:,<;%^ 


M  "*.\ 


^ell!). 


of  snpplyinj^  the  family  kindlings  from  chance 
gleanings  in  street  and  by-way. 

They  halted  for  an  early  snppcr,  tied  np  their 
boat  and  canoes  to  the  trees  along  shore,  and  then, 
near  to  the  water's  cd^^^c,  Gabe  and  the  other  boat- 
men bnilt  a  fire,  while  the  rest  of  the  party  pro- 
ceeded to  catch  fish.  What  raptnres  excited  the 
boys  as  one  after  another  dangled  tront  varying 
in  length  from  fonr  to  twelve  inches.  It  did  not 
take  tliem  long  to  get  enongh  for  the  entire  party, 
and  how  they  did  enjoy  that  meal!  The  poor 
lads  were  not  perplexed  with  napkins  and  other 
bewildering  tal)le  appointments  that  had  made 
eating  on  shipboard  a  mixed  pleasnre.  They  car- 
ried their  plates,  filled  with  fried  tront,  pork 
scraps,  and  roasted  potatoes,  ont  of  sight  of  criti- 
cal e\es,  and  ])roceeded  to  enjoy  these  delicacies 
nnfettered  ])y  knife  or  fork.  There  was  plenty  of 
water  rushing  wastefully  past  in  which  to  remove 
all  traces  of  the  use  of  fingers.  I\Iike  and  Dandy 
stayed  manfully  at  their  post ;  the  latter  had  been 
accustomed  to  knives  and  forks  always,  the  for- 
mer was  resolved  on  doing  everything,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, exactly  like  his  young  master. 

(xabe  had  watched  the  boys  with  curious  and  ab- 
sorbed interest.  He  hovered  near  while  they 
ate,  and  certainly  was  not  prc])ossessed  with  their 
aboriginal  deportment.  At  the  first  opportunity 
he  asked  Alan  if  they  were  Christians. 


« 


,! 


I20  TIIK   MASTER   OF   DKKPI.AWN 

"Witli    tlie   exception  of   Diiigwcll    they   cer- 
tainly are  not." 

"  Are  they  Protestant  ?  " 
"  No,  tliey  are  all  Catholics  except  two." 
*'  May  I  talk,  to  them  abont  religion  ?" 
"  Certainly  ;  but  are  yon  not  a  Catholic?  " 
"No,  no,"  with  a  very  emphatic  shake  of  the 
head;   ''I  Protestant." 

"  Why,  how  is  that?  I  thoncrht  all  the  Indians 
here  were  Catholics.  I  never  thoncrht  last  year 
of  asking  you  about  it." 

"I  love  the  Bible.  The  minister,  he  tell  me 
God  has  my  name  in  book.  I  take  ministers  from 
port  to  port  in  my  boat ;  they  tell  me  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  I  hear  them  preach  and  pray.  Then  I 
take  their  religion  ;  it  makes  me  clean  and  happy 
here."  He  laid  his  hand  on  his  heart.  "Are  you 
Protestant?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  and  I  love  the  Lord  Jesus  too.  That 
is  why  I  bring  all  these  young  men  and  boys  with 
me.  You  may  help  me  a  great  deal  with  the 
boys.  Talk  to  them  of  what  you  once  were  and 
what  you  are  now." 

"Yes,  I  tell  them  Catholic  religion  no  good 
for  Indian,  no  make  him  clean  here  and  happy ; 
Protestant  religion  do  both.  Indian  and  white 
man  just  the  same  inside.  I  show  them  how  to 
fish  and  hunt—tell  them  stories  about  Indians- 
then  I  tell  them  about  God." 


I 


WITH  GUN  AND   ROD 


I2T 


"I  wonder  you  „.ver  told  ,„e  al.out  this  last 


siiiiinicr." 


"  You  not  talk  to  nic  either." 
Alan  sniik'd  ;  eertaiiily  it  was  his  place  as  imicli 
as  the  IiKhan's  to  speak  about  relioiou. 

' '  We  pray  for  them.  God  heans  praxers ;  l)ook 
says  so." 

Alan  nodded  his  head  in  silence;  he  was  crettin<v 
a  lesson  Ironi  this  dusky  abori-ine  that  few  of  the 
learned  eolleoe  dons  had  tau^^dit  him. 

They  embarked  soon,  and 'in  tlie  early  twiliobt 
ao-ain  moored  their  boats  and  this  tinie  pitched 
then-  tents.  When  all  the  work  was  done,  Gabe 
drew  Alan  to  one  side  and  said  :  "  Our  niissioners 
always  pray  at  night,  under  the  open  skv,  on  the 
snow,  anywhere." 

Alan's    face   flushed.     Did  Gabe  mean  to  ask 
hnn   to  do  the  same?     He  merely  said    "Yes," 
with  a  risincr  inflection  of  voice. 
"You  pray  to  him?" 
"I  am  not  a  minister." 
"  You  Christian  ;  you  tell  me  so." 
Alan  turned  abruptly  away  and  plunoed  into 
the  dense  forest.     Gabe  saw  the  look  of  dismay 
on    the   young    man's    face   and    followed   at   a 
distance,  thinkiuQ-,  perhaps  he  niicrht  fcroet  him- 
self and  o-o  so  far  that  he  would  be  i  >st  in  the 
woods;  but  he  saw  him  instead,  throw  himself  on 
the  pround,  and  knew  he  had  come  for  pra\er 


122  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPT.AWN 

( Vdhe  assuiiiL'd  the  statuesque  pose  natural  to  his 
race,  and  lilted  his  heart  in  prayer  that  victory 
mio;lit  be  orained.  At  last  Alan  rose  and  went 
back  to  camp,  Gabe  silently  followino-. 

The  boys  were  scattered  up  and  down  the  river, 
their  shouts  niin,!:^ling  shrilly  with  the  sonj;s  of 
iionie-coniiiio;  birds  that  were  pourin^^  their  vesper 
hymns  throu^i^h  the  leafy  colonnades. 

To  say  that  the  boys  were  happy  would  only 
half  express  the  rapture  that  was  reachino-  even 
to  those  dim  re<2^ions  of  the  soul  that  had  never 
been  stirred  until  now,  for  the  reason  that  filth, 
and  discord,  and  the  poverty  enclosed  by  orimy 
brick  walls,  could  not  possibly  supply  any  food  to 
the  poetry  and  love  of  beauty  that  God  has  seen 
fit  to  plant  in  the  dreariest,  as  well  as  the  richest 
souls.  Alas,  in  how  many  it  is  not  awakened 
until  other  worlds  open  all  the  possibilities  for 
bliss  God  has  in  reserve  for  us! 

Dandy  Dingwell  took  his  joy  more  silently  than 
the  others  for,  mixed  with  it  all  was  the  memory 
of  the  pale,  weary  mother  stitchino-  in  that  vile 
atmosphere,  with  meagre  fare,  no  ripplin^-  river 
for  a  lullaby,  or  singing  birds  to  waken  her  in  the 
early  dewy  morning. 

Anselmo  forgot  for  a  while  to  fight.  There  was 
such  breadth  and  breathing  room  here,  with  such 
lavishncss  of  beauty,  that  even  his  turbulent  heart 
was  for  the  time  quieted  ;  besides,  the  other  boys 


I 


WITH   GUN   AND   ROD 


123 


bad  110  desire  to  quarrel,  wliicli  made  it  all  the 
easier  lor  liim  to  keep  the  peace. 

Alan  iiow-ot  out  his  cornet  from  anion-  quite  a 
number  of  musical  instruments  he  hnd  provided 
'.Hid  nave  the  siunal   aoreed    upon   at  supper  to 
summon  all  the  party  to  camp.     Soon  the  voun<v 
men  and  lads  came  droppiug  i„,  somewhat  sui" 
prised   at   the   unexpected    call.     Some  of  them 
noticed  that  he  was  pale,  but  they  were  none  of 
them  prepared  for  the  announcement   he   made 
when  the  restless  boys  had  become  quieted.     He 
spoke  even  sternly,  because  of  his  very  nervous- 
ness.    "  Boys,  r  have  decided  to  read  a  chapter  in 
the  Bible  to  )-ou  every  nio-ht,  and  to  offer  a  pra}-er 
to  God.     I  shall  expect  you  to  be  always  present 
and  to  listen  quietly." 

All  the   younor  cramins  of  the   company   had 
Iiaunted  the  various  missions,  more  for  what  they 
nii.i^dit  o-et  and  the  disturbance  thev  could  make 
than  for  any  other  reason.     Visions  of  the  uproar 
they  had  raised  in  those  places  flitted  before  their 
minds,  and  the  prospect  of  such  a  service  seemed 
an    addition    to   their    crood    time.     There   were 
snndry   winks   and   crrimaces   at   the  becriunino- 
watched    over    by    Gabe ;     then    an    occasional 
snicker  or  muttered  imprecation  was  heard ;  hut 
Alan  read  on,  apparently  pa>-incr  „o  attention  to 
anything-  but  the  words  he  was  readincr. 

Anseliiio  was  beginning  to  .o-row  hilarious  when 


T 


m 


124  'T"^'   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

lie  felt  liinisclf  seized,  and  before  lie  had  time  to 
sereaiii  he  looked  up  into  the  face  of  younjj^ 
Mr.  Blake,  to  whom  he  was  supposed  to  belonj;' 
for  the  time  beinii^.  A  low  command  to  be  quiet 
was  i^ivcn  in  such  a  way  that  Ansel  mo  subsided 
directly  into  most  decorous  silence,  for  there  was 
a  su^^gestion  that  he  mij^ht  receive  such  a  castiga- 
tion  as  he  had  aforetinies  had  from  his  <2^rown-up 
brother  Ani^elo.  He  soon  wished  the  prayer 
would  cease,  and  wondered  why  prayinii^  had 
never  seemed  like  this  before.  He  shivered,  al- 
thon!^li  the  air  was  balmy,  while  he  wondered 
why  the  holy  priests  never  mule  him  feel  that 
way,  and  then  there  crossed  his  mind  the  first 
vague  doubt  if  the  heretics  after  all  might  not  be 
right. 

The  prayer  ended,  they  all  rose  silently,  an.d 
soon  the  entire  group  had  drifted  away  to  their 
separate  amusements.  The  boys  by  a  common 
impulse  gathered  around  a  huge,  uprooted  tree 
that  formed  a  splendid  hiding  place,  with  the 
river  rolling  just  at  their  feet.  Each  one  was 
anxious  to  compare  sensations  with  some  one  else, 
and  as  they  one  by  one  confessed  how  they  had 
felt,  it  was  both  a  relief  and  perplexity  to  find 
that  most  were  similarly  impressed.  Even  Jacob 
Molensky  acknowledged  that  he  had  never  felt 
quite  so  solemn  before,  and  asked  if  the  New  Tes- 
tament was  all  as  good  as  what  Mr.  Rivers  had 


WITH   GUN    AND    ROD 


125 


'i 


just  ivad.  The  lads  looked  confused,  scarcely 
likincr  to  confess  that  the  Testaments,  New  or  Old, 
were  alike  sealed  books  to  them. 

"  It's  every  bit  as  good,  only  some  few  chapters 
with  names  in  them,"  Dandy  ventured  to  replv  at 
last.  He  had  not  been  appealed  to,  but  he  was 
the  only  one  who  knew  anything  about  it. 

''I  wish  I  had  one,  Td  read  it  while  I  was  here 
iii^  the   bush,  and    nobody'd   know,"  Jacob  said 
wishfully.  ^  ' 

"  Blamed  if  I'm  going  to  read  the  Bible  !    I'll 
have  soaiething  else  to  do,  catching  fish  and  kill- 
ing  things  in  the  woods,"  said,  contemptuously,  a 
bullet-headed  boy,   with  a  vicious  type  of  face, 
who  responded  to  the  name  of  Patrick  Sweeney.' 
His  remark  had  a  steadying  effect  on  the  boys' 
nerves,  and  the  impression  caused  by  the  prayer 
very  soon  wore  off,  so  that  when  the  call  was  given 
to  come  in  for  the  night  they  had,  to  all  appear- 
ance, settled  back  into  their  accustomed  mood,  de- 
fensive and  offensive. 

The  next  evening,  later  than  the  praver,  they 
f)iind  to  their  dismay  there  was  an  additional 
Scripture  lesson  awaiting  them.  They  were  sum- 
moned into  the  main  tent,  and  found  Alan  with  a 
heap  of  Bibles  on  a  stand  beside  him,  which  had 
been  improvised  out  of  boxes.  A  lamp  was  burn- 
ing and  rude  seats  of  limbs  arranged  around  the 
table. 


126 


THE   MASTER   OF   DEEI'LAWN 


"  How  inaiiy  of  you  boys  can  read  ?  " 
Instantly  every  hand  went  np. 
"  Every  evening  just  before  bedtime  we  will 
all  assemble  here  and  read  together  out  of  the 
Bible." 

It  was  indeed  a  wonder  that  they  submitted  at 
all  to  this  decree  and  the  fact  that  they  peaceably 
took  off  their  hats  and  sat  down  on  the  rou^*-!! 
seats  provided,  deserves  notice.  They  began  to 
read  stumblinglyat  the  second  chapter  of  Alatthew, 
and  the  word  to  leave  off  was  not  spoken  until 
they  had  completed  the  chapter. 

*'Tliat  will  do  for  to-night,"  Alan  said  at  last, 
to  their  immense  relief. 

"  Will  we  have  to  read  that  much  every  ni^-ht  ^" 
Ansel  mo  asked,  with  a  frown. 
*' Yes." 

"  Me  fa}-ther  wouldn't  want  me  to  be  a  read- 
in'  of  it,  if  he  knowed,"  he  of  the  red  hair  and 
freckled  face  feebly  remonstrated. 

"  While  you  are  with  me  you  will  be  expected 
to  do  what  I  wish  in  this  matter.  Any  boy  who 
desires  may  return  in  the  morning  with  the  boat- 
men to  Bonavista,  and  I  will  make  arrangements 
for  him  to  be  forwarded  to  St.  John's  and  on  to 
Providence,"  Alan  replied,  glancing  around  at  the 
clouded  faces.  Several  of  them  had  been  on  the 
point  of  seconding  their  comrade's  suggestion,  but 
thought  better  of  it,  and  not  a  word  was  spoken. 


WITH   GUN    AND    ROD 


127 


The  followiiio-  inornino.  tlicy  repaired  to  tiicir 
council  chamber,  at  the  root  of  the  upturned  tree 
aiK  discussed  the  question  with  great  seriousness 
each  one  of  them  thinking  someone  else  nii<.lit 
voice  the  religious  scruples  of  the  rest.     The  con- 
troversy soon  grew  heated,  and  at  last  thev  came 
to  blows  and  profane  language.    They  werJ  in  the 
midst  of  It  when  the  Indian  appeared  and  appealed 
cbrectly  to  Dandy,  who,  with  Jacob,  had  kept  quiet 
during  the  debate,  to  know  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
turbance. 

"It's  their  religion  they  are  fighting  about." 
Dandy  spoke  excitedly,  for  just  then  he  spied  An- 
selino  on  the  ground,  and  Mike  pommellincr  him 
iiiiuiercitully.     Gabe  did  not  wait  for  further  en- 
lightenment, but  went  in  among  them,  pushing 
them  right  and  left.     When  comparative  order 
had  been  restored,   Mike  began  an  explanation, 
but  Aiiselmo  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant;  he  was 
smarting  from  Mike's  well  directed  blows,  exter- 
nally, as  well  as  from  certain  remarks  respecting 
his  countrymen  in  general,  and  the  Ugoni  fam- 
ily in  particular.     Gabe  turned  and  gave  him  a 
vigorous  shaking. 

"You  be  quiet,"  he  said,  sternly,  still  holding 
the  boy.  ^ 

^  Anselmo  began  heaping  up  whispered  epithets 
in  Italian,  to  which  Gabe  paid  no  heed,  but  lis- 
tened calmly  to  Mike's  incoherent  remarks 


128 


THli;   .MASTUR  OF   DKKl'LAWN 


[      \ 


''You  got  no  rcHgion  to  figlit  about.  You  no 
better  than  heathen,  may  be  not  so  orood." 

"I  guess  we're  just  hkc  you,"  Ans.lmo  said,  as 
he  tried  to  free  himself  from  the  slender,  nervous 
fingers  of  the  Indian. 

"  No,  not  like  me.  I  like  you  once  ;  but  I  know 
better  now.  Good  men  tell  me  about  God  ;  how 
he  loves  Indian  just  same  as  white  man." 

"Were  you  a  Catholic  once,  like  us?"  Mike 
asked,  incredulously. 

"  Yes  ;  we  Indians  nearly  all  that." 

"  What  made  you  turn  ?  " 

Gabe  sat  dowu  beside  them.  "  I  tell  you  all 
about  it,  maybe  you  turn  too  some  day.  Mr.  Riv- 
ers tell  me  Catholics  often  turn  Protestants." 

"  It's  a  lie,"  Anselmo  hissed. 

"  Mr.  Rivers  not  lie,"  Gabe  said,  calmly.  "  He 
know  a  lot  better  than  little,  dirty  boy." 

"  You  be  quiet  or  you  will  catch  it  by-and-by," 
Tvlike  said,  sternly.  Anselmo  was  forced  to  sub- 
side into  sullen  silence. 

The  rest  of  the  boys,  nothing  loth  to  hear  a 
story,  grouped  themselves  comfortably  around 
Gabe  and  waited  for  him  to  begin.  He  sat  for  a 
moment  al)Sorbed  in  thought,  the  boys  curiously 
watching  the  dusky  face.  His  use  of  language 
was  limited,  showing  a  sublime  disregard  of  con- 
junctions, prepositions,  and  adverbs,  but  this  in  no 
wise  lessened  the  effect  of  his  sentences.     The 


•  t 


WITH   (iUN    AND   ROD^., 


129 


a 
d 
a 

y 

,1- 
10 
tie 


bi)y.s  from  time  to  time  excluiii'^ed  ci^iiscious 
j^^iances.  He  described  more  minutely  tliaii  they 
could  the  prayers,  j^cnuflLCtious,  confessionals, 
and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  the  Momisli  ritual, 
which  he  had  once  rej^arded  with  a  reverence 
aniounling  to  adoration,  and  fo"  which  now  he 
had  only  words  of  sorrow.  He  told  them  of  the 
brave,  self-denyinjT^  preachers  whom  he  had  first 
despised  and  afterward  learned  to  revere,  whom 
he  was  employed  to  .i^nide  over  those  stormy 
waters  and  throuj^h  the  wilderness,  from  hamlet 
to  hamlet  along  the  coast.  How  at  first  he  re- 
fused to  be  present  in  camp  at  morning  and  even- 
ing worship,  but  by  degrees  their  brotherliness  had 
won  his  grudging  aficction  and  he  used  to  creep 
in  to  prayers  in  a  shamefaced  way.  After  a  while, 
growing  bolder,  he  used  to  attend  the  meetings  held 
in  the  kitchens  of  the  hardy  fishermen,  where  the 
fervor  of  their  devotions  wakened  in  him  sensa- 
tions never  experienced  before.  It  was  a  long 
story  and  he  took  his  time.  He  liked  to  tell  his 
experience,  and  never  before  had  he  found  a  more 
attentive  group  of  listeners,  or  any  for  whom 
he  felt  such  sympathy.  The  lads  received  his 
me-^sage  in  silence,  even  Jacob  Molensky  listened 
respectfully  while  he  told  how  much  the  Lord 
Jesus  had  done  for  him. 

The  st(jry  ended,  the  boys  dispersed,  only  Dandy 
remaining  to  talk  a  little  longer. 


I 


13  > 


rin<:  masticr  ok  dkicpi.awn 


i  I  i 


"Tlic  boys  arc  hard  to  get  on  with."  Dandy 
spoke  sadly. 

"  Make  thcni  do  better/' 

''Mow  can  I?" 

"  Pray,  that  is  best  way  ;   then  live." 

"  They  won't  know  that  I  am  prayini^^,  and 
they  don't  watch  nic  enons^h  to  know  how  I  live." 
Dandy  sat  thinkin<j  very  bnsily  ;  no  anionnt  of 
pood  livin;;-  on  his  part  wonld  inflncnce  Anselnio, 
he  felt  certain.  Moreover,  he  was  not  anxions  to 
have  the  fiery  little  Italian  to  dwell  with  him 
eternally,  even  in  heaven.  Since  there  was  a 
place  set  apart  for  snch  persons,  it  mii;ht  be  jnst 
as  well  to  let  them  take  their  conrse. 

Gabe's  next  words  made  him  heartily  ashamed 
of  his  thonjT^hts. 

"  I  feel  most  pity  for  the  dark,  wicked  boy. 
Devil  got  strong  grip  on  him.  We  try  to  help 
him."  ' 

''  Don't  yon  think  it  wonld  be  better  to  try 
some  one.  likelier  to  be  good?"  Dandy  asked, 
with  some  twinges  of  conscience. 

"  No,  he  have  hardest  work  to  get  np  there." 
He  pointed  skyward. 

"  I  don't  think  he  ever  can  ;  he  is  so  bad  every 


wav. 


n 


"You  never  hear  about  publican?    the  Lord 
able  to  save  everybody." 

"The  publican  prayed  and  wanted  to  be  good ; 


i    i 


WITH    (UJN    AND    KOI) 


lie  won't 


v 

,  1) 

ry 
i-d 

a; 


but  Ausclino  don't  want  to  be  better, 
let  you  helj)  him." 

Gal)e  sat  lookino;-  silently  out  across  the  river. 
He  had  more  thouj^dits  than  words  to  clothe  them, 
and  he  could  see  God's  limitless  love  reachin.i;-  far 
beyond  Anselmo's  dej)ravity.  Presently  there 
came  an_<;ry  voices  from  down  the  river,  and  they 
both  started  to  find  what  disturbing^  element  was 
now  at  work.  Anselmo  and  Mike  were  fi<;htinj^ 
a«^ain,  Anselmo,  as  usual,  gettin^^  sadly  worsted 
in  the  combat.  His  face  was  bleedinij^,  but  Mike, 
with  ani^ry  distorted  features,  was  rainin<^  the 
blows  pitilessly  on  the  helpless  boy.  Cxabe  seized 
one  in  each  hand  and  held  them  quiverinj^  and 
squirmini»;  at  arm's  len<^th.  He  paid  no  attention 
to  their  ex[)lanations,  but  stood  there  as  motion- 
less and  silent  as  a  bronze  statue,  the  other  boys 
also  silenced  by  the  stern  face.  Mike  and  An- 
selmo watched  their  comrades  as  their  feelin<>s 
*;radually  passed  into  terror. 

Dandy  was  not  fri<2;^litened,  for  he  knew  that 
the  Indian  was  a  Christian.  He  was  delij^^hted  to 
see  a  new  expression  creepin*^  into  Anselmo's 
Aice,  thou<jh  what  it  meant  he  was  not  able  to 
tell.  Maybe  this  mysterious  Indian  mii^ht  be 
able  to  work  a  transformation  in  the  lad's  nature 
that  no  one  else  could.  Perhaps  he  had  been 
brought  here  for  just  that  purpose.  Dandy  ^yqw 
so  interested  over  his  fancies  that  he  threw  him- 


r       ! 
fit 

HI 


132  THIC   MASTER  OF  DKEPLAWN 

self   on  the    ground,    willing    to  wait    there  any 
length  of  time. 

When  the  last  of  the  other  boys  had  disap- 
peared through  the  trees,  Gabe  dropped  on  his 
knees,  the  two  lads  following  his  example.  Loosen- 
ing his  hold  on  Mike  for  an  instant  he  took  off 
his  hat,  lifted  his  face  to  the  sky  and  began 
to  pray.  The  words  were  not  like  those  that  Mr. 
Rivers  had  used  the  night  before.  They  were 
broken  and  the  grammar,  even  to  Dandy's  obser- 
vation, very  defective  ;  but  underneath  the  mere 
speech  was  a  great  heart  that  brought  its  burden 
right  into  the  presence  of  the  King. 

Dandy  was  watching  Gabe,  for  the  time  forget- 
ting the  limp  figures  on  each  side  of  him,  when  a 
quick  motion  on  Mike's  part  drew  his  attention, 
and  he  was  astonished  to  see  that  sturdy  youth 
melted  into  tears.  Anselmo  was  looking  up  into 
Gabe's  face,  his  fierce  eyes  gleaming  under  the 
clustering  curls,  his  face  ashen  with  fear  or  some 
equally  strong  emotion.  The  boys  were  begin- 
ning to  recognize  some  awe-inspiring  power  out- 
side of  the  visible  world,  a  wonderful  Being  to 
whom  the  Indian  was  speaking  directly,  talkino- 
about  them  and  entering  into  very  distasteful  par- 
ticulars about  their  moral  defects.  It  was  a  long 
prayer,  but  at  last  it  was  ended  and  Gabe  arose, 
put  on  his  hat,  and  walked  away  into  the  forest. 
The  three  boys  watched  him  out  of  sight,  then 


', 


WITH   GUN   AND   ROD 


^33 


looked  furtively  at  each  other.     At  last  Anselnio 
broke  the  silence  : 

"I  say,  it  wasn't  fair  for  him  to  tell  all  that 
about  ns,  and  now  he's  -one  off  to  tell  some  more 
likely.     Vd  enough  sight  sooner  be  a  Catholic' 
lor  then  you  know  when  ,ou're  forgiven,  for  the 
priest  tells  you  so." 

''  Maybe  the  priest  don't  know  any  more  about 
It  than  we  do  ourselves,"  Mike  said,  indifferently. 
He  had  half  a  mind  to  follow  Gabe  and  ask  him 
to  pray  for  hmi  some  more.  It  was  so  hard  to  do 
right,  especially  when  Anselmo  was  so  a-oravat- 
iiig,  and  it  seemed  necessary  to  administe"-  pun- 
ishment when  it  was  so  richly  deserved,  besides 
he  had  other  temptations  for  which  Anselmo  was 
in  no  way  to  blame. 


CHAPTER  XI 


IN  THE  RIVER 


WHEN  Alan  and  his  friends  set  out  on  their 
holiday  trip  they  left  themselves  free  to 
extend  their  stay  in  those  vast  inland  wilds 
as  long  as  they  chose.  The  air  was  so  bracing, 
the  days  so  full  of  adventure  or  delicious  dream- 
like repose,  whichever  they  preferred,  that  they 
scarcely  desired  to  go  back  sooner  than  neces- 
sary to  the  haunts  of  civilization. 

They  would  go  on  long  exploring  expeditions 
into  the  interior,  Gabe  invariably  being  the  leader 
on  these  excursions.  All  the  boys  were  so  un- 
willing to  stay  in  camp  to  take  care  of  the  stuff, 
that  after  a  while  the  rewards  and  punishments 
were  adjusted  by  going  with  the  others,  or  else 
remaining  ingloriously  in  camp  ;  a  young  man 
whose  turn  had  come  to  be  in  charge  remaining 
with  them.  There  were  always  enough  bo}S  in 
disgrace  to  keep  him  company. 

It  was  only  by  dint  of  wonderful  self-control 
that  Anselmo  was  able  to  go  at  all ;  but  this 
desirable  end  was  at  last  achieved.  When  he 
started,  one  glorious  Augu.st  morning,  in  the  early 
hush  before  the  sun  had  risen,  and  while  the 
134 


IN  the:  river 


135 


morning  star  still  hung  dimly  above  the  treetops 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  he  received  a  most 
valuable  lesson.     The  week-long  battle  that  had 
been  waged,  his  nobler  self  against  the  baser,  was 
crowned  now  with  glad  victory,  but  as  he  glided 
up  the  river  in  the  boat  he  had  thoughts  new  and 
somewhat  painful,  notwithstanding \lie  gladness 
he  felt  at  being  there.     The  world  was\so  still 
about  him,  save  tlie  musical  plash  of  the  water, 
and  the  notes  of  the  awakening  birds,  one  could 
fancy  that   one   might   almost   catch   the  sound 
of  the  growing  leaves,  or  the  thunder  of  rollincr 
suns.  ^ 

All  the  world  about  Anselmo,  the  sounding 
water,  the  trees  leaning  loverlike  toward  the 
mirror  of  the  ri\-er  at  their  roots,  the  fringes  of 
delicious  bits  of  greenery,  mossy  knolls,  ""ferns 
with  their  long  slender  stems  and  delicate  fronds 
taking  now  the  russet  tinge  of  approaching 
autumn,  came  to  his  consciousness  as  vividly  as  i} 
their  reality  had  never  been  seriously  questioned 
by  philosophers. 

He  had  his  own  vague  thoughts  on  these  sub- 
jects, as  tantalizing  perhaps  as  those  of  the  prac- 
tised philosopher.  These  scenes  appealed  to 
subtle  faculties  that  the  bits  of  sky  caught  throu^j 
o])enings  in  brick  and  mortar,  the  crowded,  dusty 
streets  and  shockingly  defaced  tenements  that  he 
had  called  home,  had  never  awakened.     This  pure 


136  TitE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

air  and  these  healthful  surroundings  after  his  life- 
long encounter  with  defilement,  were  powerful  fac- 
tors in  the  awakening  of  his  nature,  which  Alan's 
teachings,  together  with  Gabe's  practical  com- 
nion-sense  talks,  strengthened  more  than  any  one 
knew. 

Mike  and  Jacob  and  Dandy  were  of  the  party 
that  day  with  nearly  all  the  other  lads.  This  trip 
had  been  particularly  coveted  by  every  one  of  the 
party.  Gabe  had  doubted  if  it  were  safe  to  take 
so  many  in  the  boat  and  canoes,  but  nearly  all  of 
them  could  swim  and  the  river  for  the  most  part 
was  so  narrow  there  was  little  danger  of  squalls 
reaching  them.  He  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
group  his  passengers,  as  they  embarked,  as  safely 
as  possible.  Dandy  and  Anselmo  were  put  to- 
gether, for  Gabe  had  found  there  was  always  less 
disturbance  in  Dandy's  vicinity  than  elsewhere 
among  the  boys. 

There  were  merry  shouts  across  the  water  from 
boat  to  canoes  ;  restless  hands  impeded  somewhat 
the  men  who  used  the  oars  and  paddles,  for  the 
boys  were  full  of  life  and  anxious  to  be  meddling. 
It  was  impossible  to  keep  them  quiet. 

They  had  nearly  reached  the  end  of  their 
journey  when,  towering  far  into  the  blue  sky 
before  them,  they  saw  the  mountain  that  was  the 
objective  point  of  that  day's  expedition.  Gabe 
had  described  the  view  to  be  obtained  from  its 


IN  THE   RIVER  137 

siiiiiinit  as  so  extensive  that  they  were  anxious  to 
see  for  themselves  if  his  leport  was  not  exa-. 
.Iterated.  Anotlier  attraction  was  the  fact  tliat  he 
assured  them  only  the  most  expert  climber  could 
scale  its  rugged  sides.  The  boys  were  to  be  left 
niidway,  where  the  ascent  became  most  pre- 
cipitous, in  charge  of  one  of  the  young  men  whose 
Inngs  were  too  weak  to  bear  such  a  strain. 

While  every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  hill  before 
them  there  was  a  sudden  splash,  followed  by  a 
shrill  scream,  and  a  shock  of  black  hair  disap- 
pearing beneath  the  water  was  all  they  could  see 
when  they  looked  in  the  direction  of  the  cry.  A 
moment  later  there  was  another  splash  and  Gabe, 
divesting  himself  of  shoes  and  coat,  jumped  in 
after  Anselmo.  The  boy  in  his  restlessness  had 
reached  too  far  over  the  side  of  the  boat  and, 
being  unable  to  swim,  sank  directly. 

Every  paddle  was  held  suspended,  and  anxious 
faces  watched  Gabe  as  he  floated  on  the  water,  his 
keen  eyes  watching  for  the  boy.  It  seemed  a 
good  while  to  the  watchers,  but  it  was  in  reality 
only  a  few  seconds  until  he  had  Anselmo  in  his 
grasp  and  was  swimming  for  the  shore,  the  canoes 
all  following  in  his  wake.  The  boy  had  lost 
consciousness,  but  the  time  was  so  short  between 
the  accident  and  rescue,  it  was  not  long  until  the 
black  eyes  looked  up,  bewildered  at  the  group  of 
anxious  faces  bending  near.     He  shivered^  for  the 


. 


I 


T38  THK   MASTER  OP  DKEPLAWN 

iiioniincr  was  a  trifle  chilly  and  lie  was  already 
cold  when  he  fell  into  the  river  and,  at  the  best 
of  times,  his  vitality  was  low. 

Alan  wrapped  a  rng  around  him  and  lifted  him 
into  the  boat  again,  then  they  pushed  off  and 
started  on  their  way.  A  silence  had  fallen  over 
the  merry  crowd ;  there  were  no  longer  gay 
snatches  of  music  and  laughter  in  response  to  the 
notes  of  the  feathered  songsters  in  the  trees. 
Amid  the  springing  life,  death  had  just  intruded 
its  grim  front  and  looked  at  them  from  those 
dangerous  depths  whose  waters  murmured  so 
cheerily  against  their  birch  canoes.  The  lads  sat 
circumspectly  on  their  narrow  seats,  and  gave  no 
further  trouble  until  they  had  landed  at  the  base 
of  the  mountain. 

As  they  stepped  on  shore  Alan  looked  down  at 
the  limp  figure  in  his  arms,  on  the  pale  face  and 
drooping  lids  and  drew  him  closer  to  him,  for  the 
lad's]Jielplessness  appealed  strongly  to  his  sym- 
pathy.    Then  he  looked  up  and  said  : 

''The  rest  of  you  can  go  on  and  climb  the 
mountain.      I  will  stay  and  look  after  Anselmo." 

Gabe  remonstrated.  "Yon  wanted  to  see  it 
more  than  anybody.     Let  some  one  else  stay. " 

"  No,  I  will  stay,"  he  said  decisively,  as  he  laid 
Anselmo  carefully  down  in  the  canoe  on  a  bed 
they  had  fitted  for  him  out  of  overcoats  and  rugs. 

The  party  was  eager  to  begin  the  ascent,  and 


: 


IN  THE   RIVER 


139 


without  waiting  any  loiicrer  they  took  their  pro- 
visions and  started.     Dandy  followed  a  little  way 
and  then  halted.     He  looked  back  at  Alan,  left 
lonely  on  the  bank,  and  forward  at  the  rapidly 
disappearing  jjarty.     He  too,  was  as  eager  as  the 
others  to  look  down  from  the  mountain  side  on 
the  scene  below,  but  it  seemed  ungrateful  for  all 
of  them  to  go  away  thinking  only  of  their  own 
pleasure  and  leave  the  two  alone  ;  besides,  a  day 
alone  with   Mr.  Rivers  had  in  it  possibilities  for 
enjoyment  that   no  mountain  climbing  or  views 
could  possibly  have.     He  watched   them  far  up 
the   mountain   side,   their   cheerfulness    fully   re- 
stored.    Gay  laughter  and  shouts  floated  down  on 
the  clear  morning  air. 

Alan  took  a  book  from  his  pocket,  and  seating 
himself  on  a  mossy  bed  near  the  canoe,  appeared 
to  have  forgotten  both  Anselmo  and  the  merry 
ciowd  of  excursionists.  Dandy  sat  for  a  long 
time  watching  the  tiny  ripples  breaking  along  the 
shore  and  the  shadows  shortening  on  the  hiilside 
as  the  sun  crept  up  the  sky.  He  began  to  think 
he  had  been  foolish  to  miss  the  fun  of  the  long 
day's  jaunt  with  the  others,  siiace  it  bade  fair  to  be 
a  very  dull  day— Anselmo  sleeping  heavily  in  the 
canoe,  and  .Air.  Rivers  apparently  as  unconscious 
of  the  world  about  him  as  the  sleeping  boy. 

P.ut  in  the  deep  hush  that  enfolded  him,' Dandy 
began  to  find  that  there  were  other  pleasures  in 


140  THE  MASTER  OF  DKEPLAWN 

f 

this  world  besides  mere  noise  and  activity.  The 
very  silence  seemed  to  open  communion  with 
nature.  While  listeniu^^  to  the  different  sounds 
of  bird  and  insect  and  the  sighin.q;  wind  among 
the  trees,  he  began  wondering  why  God  had  filled 
these  vast  solitudes  so  full  of  happy  life,  wonder- 
ing too,  where  each  twig  would  find  a  shelter 
when  the  storms  of  winter  were  raging.  Was  it 
possible  that  the)'  were  all  frozen,  so  that  fresh 
creation  would  be  iix^cessary  each  succeeding 
springtime  ? 

He  looked  across  at  Alan  at  last,  wishing  to  ask 
him  about  all  these  new  questions  when,  to  his 
surprise,  he  found  the  clear  brown  eyes  regarding 
him  intently,  and  with  such  a  kindly  look  that 
he  felt  more  than  repaid  for  his  sacrifice. 

"I  thought  until  just  now  that  I  was  alone  here 
with  Anselmo ;  why  didn't  you  go  with  the 
others?  " 

Dandy  looked  down  shyly,  but  with  rosy  cheeks 
managed  to  answer  :  "I  thought,  sir,  it  would  be 
lonesome  for  you  here  all  day  alone." 

"  That  was  very  thoughtful  of  you,  but  I  am 
afraid  you  will  be  lonely  yourself;  however,  I  ap- 
preciate your  generosity  more  than  I  can  }nake 
you  understand,  I  fear." 

Dandy's  face  brightened  at  this,  and  he  said  : 
"  I  have  been  listening  quietly  here  and  looking 
around  me,  it's  so  unlike  when  the  boys  are  mak- 


IN  rilK   RIVKR 


141 


ino;  a  noise.      It  see.ns  Pve  never  seen  tliin.rs  just 
tins   way  before.     It's   a   emions  sort  of    world 
don't  yon  think  it  is,  sir?"  ' 

II  In  what  way  do  you  mean  is  it  cnrions?" 
"Oh,    wc-Il,  it  seems  so   nincli    of   evervthincr 
Roino-  to  waste  here,  wood  and  water  and'crreen 
thino-s,  and  there's  somnch  more  air  and  sunshine 
than  we  have  at  home.     It'll  be  bad  cnono-h  in 
those  close  rooms  where  mother  and  the  ^r'nh  are 
to-day.     Why,  the  broad  avenues,  where  the  swell 
folk  live  and  that  us  fellows  thought  must  be  near 
as  good  as  heaven  itself— perhaps  better,  for  all 
we   knew— aren't  equal  to  this.      They  haven't 
that  beautiful  river  and   the  green  places  away 
among  the  trees,   nor  the  woodsy  smell,  nor  the 
birds,  only  the  prisoner  kind  that  are  caged  up." 
"  You  are  quite  a  poet,  my  bov." 
"  I  don't  know,  sir  ;  but  I  think  it's  fine,  just 
you  and  me  talking  here  together  I  "     The  bov's 
face  was  a  picture  of  delight. 

''  Yes,  we  are  becoming  very  good  friends,  and 
1  hope  we  will  have  pleasure  in  each  other's  com- 
pany a  great  many  years,  even  long  after  our 
bodies  will  have  gone  to  dust." 

"  Do  you  mean  in  heaven,  sir  ?  "  Dandy  asked, 
reverently. 

"Yes,  in  heaven.  We  know  that  death  is  not 
far  away,  although  it  may  seem  hard  to  realize  it 
now  when  we  are  young  and  strong,  but  think  of 


142 


'nil-:  iM.\sTi<:R  oi."  dkkplawn 


all  the  generations  that  have  lain  down  in  the 
lonj;  sleep  since  Job  asked  :  '  If  a  man  die,  shall 
he  live  a<;ain?' " 

"  They  will  live  a.i;ain — all  who  have  died  ? 
Don't  yon  think  so,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  think  anNthini;  abont  it,  I  siniph-  ac- 
cei)t  it,  treniendonsly  impossible  as  it  may  seem 
to  me,  since  Christ  has  told  ns  that  he  is  the 
resnrrection  and  the  life." 

"  I  like  to  talk  to  yon,  sir;  yon  seem  to  make 
God  and  heaven  very  near  to  me." 

"  Do  yon  think  how  rich  God  mnst  be  when 
he  has  so  mnch  beanty  to  bestow  on  these  ont- 
of-the-way  places?" 

"  I  do  not  think  I  ever  thonght  of  it,  sir ;  bnt 
isn't  it  jnst  as  easy,  when  he  was  makin<^  things, 
to  make  them  bcantifnl?" 

"We  know  nothing  of  the  effort  reqnired  in 
creation,  bnt  looking  at  sncli  lavish  expenditnre 
of  beanty  sets  me  thinking."  Alan  then  sank 
into  silent  thonght.  Dandy  waited  awhile  for 
him  to  continue  and  then  asked,  timidly  : 

"  Wonld  yon  please  to  tell  me  what  it  makes 
yon  think  of?  " 

"Many  things:  first,  perhaps,  how  mnch  God 
mnst  have  in  store  for  ns  when  we  come  to  see 
him  face  to  face ;  and  then  I  think  how  rich  and 
glorious  he  mnst  be,  and  how  wonderfnl  it  is  that 
he  should  let  me  talk  with  him  every  day." 


k 


IN  Tiri<:  KivKR 


H3 


"Docs  Cod  talk  witli  yoii?"  Dandy  was  on 
liis  feet  now  close  to  Alan's  side  and  lookin-  down 
at  liini  in  deep  amazement. 

"  Yes,  every  day,  many  times  a  day.  It  was  he 
wlio  told  me  to  biin*;  you  lads  out  here."  Dandy 
stood  some  moments  in  silence,  and  then  he  said, 
softly : 

"  I  think  I  understand.  Wasn't  it  oood  of  him 
to  remember  us  in  this  way?" 

"Ah,  my  boy,  it  is  his  goodness  that  makes  my 
heart  so  glad  always— in  spite  of  everything." 
^^  "  You  surely  have  nothing, sir,  to  make  you  sad. 
The  boys  tell  me  you  are  very  rich,  and  you  are 
strong  and  so  handsome."     He  ended  with  a  little 
break  in   his  voice.     He  scarcely  knew  if  it  were 
just  the  thing  to  mention  that  last  fact,  but  Mr. 
Rivers   did    look   such    a   splendid    specimen   of 
young  manhood  that  Dandy  felt  it  was  more  than 
could  be  expected  of  him  to  keep  silent  on  the 
subject.     He  was  suddenly  brought  back  to  stern 
realities  by  Mr.  Rivers'  next  remark. 

"  Riches  are  sometimes  the  ruin  of  people— a  f  ir 
worse  curse  than  poverty— and  they  have  been 
ever  since  the  days  of  Dives  and  Lazarus."  Dandy 
was  surprised  at  the  bitterness  with  which  he 
spoke.  Neither  could  he  understand  how  riches 
and  good  looks,  two  of  the  coveted  gifts  of  life  in 
which  he  was  painfully  deficient,  unless  a  pair  of 
luminous  brown  eyes  might  be  excepted,  could 


1 


>■ 


i  i 


I    ! 


144 


THE    MASTER   OK   DEEPLAWN 


fail  to  make  their  possessor  other  than   perfectly 
happy  with  his  allotments. 

A  movement  in  the  canoe  interrnpted  their  con- 
versati(ni.  Anselmo  had  wakened,  and  not  fmd- 
ing  himself  in  a  comfortable  frame  of  mind,  was 
expressim^-  discontent  in  a  way  more  in  keepin'^ 
with  his  accnstomed  snrronndings.  Alan  went  lo 
him.  followed  closely  by  Dandy. 

"What  did  yon  let  me  go  to  sleep  for?  I  want 
to  climb  the  monntain  too,"  he  said,  fietfnlly. 

Alan  made  no  reply,  bnt  took  the  hot  hand  in 
his,  laying  his  finger  on  the  pnlse. 

"  My  head  aches  and  I'm  tired,"  he  said,  laying 
his  head  down  again  on  the  pillow  of  coats.  Alan 
looked  at  him  anxionsly.  The  pnlse  was  high 
and  already  the  face  was  crimson  with  fever.  He 
conld  hardly  nnderstand  why  a  brief  pinnae  in 
that  wnrm  river  shonld  affect  the  lad  so  scrionsly. 
Prol)ably  it  did  no  harm,  with  the  exception  of  the 
shock  to  a  system  weakened  by  long-continned 
privation.  Whatever  the  canse,  Anselmo  had 
every  symptom  of  being  on  the  brink  of  a  se- 
vere illness.  It  seemed  strange  how  mnch  per- 
plexity the  boy  had  been  to  him  from  the  very 
first,  but  as  lie  bent  over  him  trying,  if  possible, 
to  add  in  some  way  to  his  comfort,  a  glance  into 
the  sorrowfnl  face  made  his  heart  as  tender  toward 
him  as  it  would  have  been  to  even  Dandy  under 
similar  circumstances. 


IN   THE    RIVKR 


145 


to 

d 


Tbcy  had  their  dinner  together,  Alan  and 
Dandy,  bn*"  Ansehno  refnsed  to  taste  of  food. 
He  seemed  to  be  growini;-  very  ninch  worse  as  the 
day  wore  on,  and  Dandy  fonnd  there  was  little 
chance  for  another  qniet  cliat  with  Mr.  Rivers. 
As  he  sat  and  watched  Alan  bathing  the  boy's  hot 
temples,  he  said  : 

"Yon  are  almost  as  kind  as  one's  own  mother 
could  be.     Had  you  a  very  good  mother,  sir?" 

"  I  was  too  young  when  I  lost  my  mother  to  re- 
member her,  but  I  have  been  told  she  was  one  of 
the  loveliest  women  that  God  blesses  our  poor 
world  with." 

"  That  must  be  the  reason  you  are  so  good.  You 
are  a  strong  man  and  yet  yon  seem  like  a  woman 
too  ;  you  are  so  gentle  and  yet  stem  when  we  do 
wrong." 

"  You  are  very  frank  in  your  criticisms." 

"  rd  rather  talk  things  to  the  people  themselves, 
especially  kind  things.  It  don't  do  much  good  to 
talk  faults  over  to  others  and  then  make  believe 
we  don't  see  anything.  In  some  ways  it  is  not  a 
very  nice  world  to  live  in,  the  people  are  so  hard 
to  get  on  with.  ' 

"  Yes,  but  all  we  need  be  anxious  about  is  to  do 
our  work  for  God's  approval." 

"  It  seems  a  long  time  to  wait  to  get  our  pay  for 
being  good  when  we  die,"  Dandy  said  wearily. 

Alan   smiled,  but   did   not  reply,   for  he  was 


146 


THE   MASTKR  OF   DKKPLAWN 


needtd  just  then  by  Anselino,  who  seemed  to  be 
<;rowiiig  delirious. 

It  was  a  very  tired  company  of  youths  who 
came  trooping  down  the  mountain  side  about  an 
hour  before  sunset.  The  day  had  been  a  very 
joyous  one  however,  they  every  one  agreed,  and 
each  in  his  own  way  voiced  his  ideas  of  what  was 
its  best  feature. 

They  had  caught  trout  from  the  mountain 
streams.  From  rocky  peaks  far  up  in  the  moun- 
tain, upon  which  the  late  golden  glow  was  now 
resting,  they  had  caught  glimpses  of  the  distant 
sea  and  vast  areas  of  inland  wildernesses.  There 
had  been  merry  scrambles  over  giant  trees  pros- 
trate in  their  path,  and  as  they  climbed  higher,  the 
open  spaces,  where  all  around  them  nature  stood 
silent  in  her  vastness,  had  brought  a  hush,  some- 
times, over  the  noisiest  spirits  among  them.  To 
complete  all,  there  was  the  merry  dinner,  which 
had  a  flavor  that  only  dinners  eaten  under  such 
fine  conditions  can  have — appetites  whetted  by 
joyous  eiercise  ci"  every  tiny  muscle  in  the  body, 
with  air  as  pure  as  that  breathed  by  the  patriarchs 
when  the  world  was  young. 

They  ceased  their  merry  shouts  when  they  came 
near  enough  to  see  the  figure  lying  in  the  boat. 
Ciabe  was  at  the  rear  of  the  procession,  and  was 
the  last  to  join  the  circle  that  had  formed  around 
Alan  and  his  charge.      His  trained  eye  saw  at 


IN  THE   RIVER 


147 


once  that  it  was  a  case  of  very  serioi.s  illness.    He 
a  sw,,t  y  and  s>  ently  as  possible,  then  launching 


i 


CHAPTER  XII 


IN   THK   BORDER   LAND 


THERE  were  clays  and  nights  of  anxious 
watching  after  that.  Gabe  had  assured 
them  it  would  be  dangerous  to  start  on  the  home- 
ward journey  with  tlie  lad  in  such  a  state.  He 
had  nursed  many  a  one  through  long  sicknesses, 
and  in  this  case  felt  confident  that  he  could  ac- 
complish as  much  toward  a  cure  as  any  of  the 
doctors  in  the  little  port,  their  nearest  approach  to 
civilization.  As  for  the  chemist's  drugs,  he  had 
whole  acres  of  the  best  medicines  in  their  natural 
state  in  the  forest  around  them.  With  these  ready 
to  his  hand  and  with  the  knowledge  of  their  heal- 
ing properties,  he  felt  confident  that  he  could 
fight  the  battle  with  disease  successfully.  Alan 
felt  a  confidence  in  him  that  was  purely  instinct- 
ive, since  he  had  never  seen  anything  of  his  skill 
in  this  direction,  none  of  them,  thus  far,  having 
had  any  need  of  a  physician  since  they  left  Boston. 
But  in  spite  of  Gabe's  skill  and  tireless  care, 
Anselmo  grew  weaker.  The  boys  were  permitted 
to  steal  to  his  bedside,  one  or  two  at  a  time,  to 
look  at  the  white  face  with  the  gleaming  eyes,  in 
which  there  was  no  light  of  recognition.  A  husli 
148 


IN  THE  BORDER   LAND 


149 


111 


to 
in 


fell  upon  tlie  camp.  The  merry  sliout  or  angry 
exclamation  seldom  broke  the  enfolding  stillness. 

Tliey  would  go  off  in  the  early  morning,  with 
their  lunch,  on  long  expeditions  in  charge  of  some 
members  of  the  party  clever  enough  to  guide 
their  way  back  by  the  pocket  compass  and  the 
sun.  They  were  all  glad  to  escape  from  the  camp 
where  the  shadow  of  death  might  be  hovering, 
seeming  so  out  of  place  here  amid  all  the  abundant 
life — far  different  from  the  slums  they  called  home, 
where  death  was  a  regular  and  very  often  a  wel- 
come visitor.  The  boys  would  have  long  talks 
together  as  they  trudged  along  or  lay  resting  on 
the  mossy  banks  watching  the  river  flowing  stead- 
ily to  the  sea.  They  would  speculate  about  An- 
sel mo's  chances  for  recovery,  with  perplexed  ques- 
tionings as  to  his  destiny  in  case  of  death.  They 
wondered  if  the  prayers  that  were  being  offered 
for  him  every  day  were,  after  all,  any  good  to  him 
when  he  could  not  understand  a  word  of  them, 
and  whether  other  people's  prayers  were  much 
help  to  one,  anyway. 

"  Blest  if  I  can  see  what  good  they  can  do  for  a 
fellow,"  Bob  White  said.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
skeptical  of  the  crowd  in  matters  religious  and 
social. 

"  The  Bible  says  we  are  to  pray  for  all  men. 
IVIr.  Rivers  told  me  that  one  day  himself,  and  he 
says  it  must  do  good  or  we  wouldn't  be  told  to  do 


I50 


THE  MASTER  OK   DEEPI.AWN 


it."  Dandy  stood  up  for  orthodoxy  on  all  occa- 
sions. "  Maybe  it  helps  keep  us  more  in  God's 
mind  ;  you  see  he  has  so  much  to  look  after." 

"  If  he  forgot  like  that  I  guess  we'd  be  a  sight 
worse  off 'n  we  are,"  Bob  responded,  gloomily. 

Jacob  began  complaining  then  about  Anselmo. 

"  He's  been  giving  trouble  from  the  first.  Now 
he's  just  spoiling  everything,"  he  spoke  in  an  un- 
reasoning way,  as  if  poor  Anselmo  could  help 
being  sick. 

"  What  nonsense  to  be  a  talking  that  way,"  IVIike 
said.  "  You  hate  that  Eyetahan  so  bad  you'll  be 
blaniin'  him  next  time  it  rains,  I  expect." 

"  Gabe  told  Mr.  Rivers,  when  I  was  in  Ansel- 
mo's  tent  this  morning,  that  we'd  know  by  to- 
morrow if  he'll  live  or  die,"  Dandy  said. 

This  announcement  had  a  very  subduing  effect 
on  the  boys.  Jacob  looked  conscience-smitten  be- 
cause of  his  remarks,  and  the  others  began  talk- 
ing about  what  it  must  seem  like  to  be  starting 
out  all  alone,  without  one's  body  even  to  keep 
company  with  the  spirit,  on  the  long  journey  to 
another  world. 

"Do  you  suppose  he  will  look  at  us  before  he 
starts  ?  "  a  superstitious  little  fellow  asked  anx- 
iously. He  was  always  on  the  lookout  for  ghosts 
and  disagreeable  apparitions  of  all  kinds.  The 
fact  that  his  diligence  in  watching  for  them  had 
never  been  rewarded  in  no  way  discouraged  him. 


IN   TIIK   IJORDER   LAND 


151 


"I  miess  lieMl  have  other  thiiii^s  to  look  after 
that'll  be  more  important,  but  maybe  he  won't 
die ;  don't  let  us  bother  about  it  till  we  have  to." 

Bob  White's  way  of  looking  at  it  cheered 
them  somewhat,  but  nevertheless,  painful  expect- 
ancy was  in  every  boy's  mind,  and  he  of  the  fear- 
ful heart  concluded  that  he  would  lie  awake  all 
nioht  and  keep  watch  near  the  door  of  the  tent. 
Frightened  though  he  might  be,  he  would  dearly 
like  to  see  how  Anselmo  looked  when  free  from 
his  lx)dv  ;  he  fancied  he  would  have  a  verv  cross- 
looking  soul.  The  boys  all  seemed  anxious  to 
keep  as  close  together  as  possible,  as  though  they 
were  fearful  if  left  alone  they  might  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  death  angel.  All  day  long  they 
could  talk  of  nothing  save  those  topics  perplexing- 
alike  to  philosophers  and  the  ignorant  child — the 
"  afterward  "  of  death — the  loneliness  of  the  soul 
in  the  regions  beyond.  A  few  of  them,  like  Bob 
White,  wn'e  inclined  to  skepticism,  and  doubted 
if  there  were  other  worlds  or  intelligent  beings 
save  our  earth  and  its  tenants,  while  they  con- 
tended if  Anselmo  did  cease  to  live  that  day  his 
fiery  spirit  should  be  extinguished  like  a  lamp 
blown  out ;  if  not  it  would  be  a  mistake,  for  he 
would  be  a  terror  to  any  one  who  might  be  his 
neiirhbor  in  other  worlds  some  thousands  of  years 
hence. 

Night  fell  at  last ;  the  lights  were  all  put  out 


152  TIIK   MASTKR  OF   DKKPLAWN 

save  in  the  sick  Ijoy's  teut,  and  tlicn  their  fears 
really  grew  overmastering.  They  were  afraid  to 
open  their  eyes  lest  some  vision  not  wholesome 
for  mortals  to  behold  might  greet  them.  Stories 
of  the  sni^crnatural,  death  warnings,  and  appari- 
tions, had  been  discnssed  in  broad  daylight.  Now 
they  came  to  mind  with  a  vividness  j^ainfnlly  dis- 
tinct, bnt  sleep  was  too  powerfnl  for  them,  and  one 
by  one  they  dropped  off  withont  anything  more 
alarming  than  their  own  fancies  to  disturb  them. 
They  did  not  waken  until  they  heard  the  birds 
in  the  trees  overhead  trilling  their  ecstasies  and 
on  opening  their  eyes  found  that  the  sun  was 
throwing  glints  here  and  there  amid  the  shadows 
of  the  foliage. 

The  first  question  was  for  Anselmo,  but  they 
were  alone  in  the  tent  and  were  equally  ig- 
norant of  his  condition.  Dandy  was  the  first 
dressed  and  he  sped  across  to  the  tent  where  the 
sick  boy  lay,  his  heart  beating  fast  with  anxiety. 
Gabe  stood  at  the  door  lookino:  intentlv  at  the 
river  that  was  ri[)pling  under  the  fresh  breeze, 
lie  glanced  calmly  down  at  Dandy,  who  was  gasp- 
ing out  his  inquiries,  and  only  said  : 

"  He  is  going  to  live." 

Dandy  had  grown  used  to  the  Indian's  laconic 
answers,  and  withont  asking  further  particulars, 
he  hastened  back  with  the  good  news.  A  muffled 
sound   came    back    from  the   other   tent.     Gabe 


IN   THE   BORDER    LAND 


153 


smiled,  for  he  knew  it  was  the   cheer  that  had 
greeted  Dandy's  announcement. 

It  was  astonishing  with  what  zest  the  boys  re- 
sumed their  interrupted  avocations.  Ivven  the 
daily  lessons  seemed  to  be  enjoyed,  while  it  mat- 
tered little  to  them  whether  the  trout  responded 
to  their  enticements  of  worm  and  fly,  since  they 
chatted  right  along  with  each  other  and  planned 
how  generous  they  were  going  to  be  with  An- 
selnio  when  he  was  with  them  once  more.  They 
were  ignorant  of  the  ravages  severe  sickness 
makes,  and  fancied  that  in  a  few  days  he  would 
be  able  to  take  his  place  among  them. 

The  young  men  had  been  watching  the  case 
critically,  and  were  inclined  to  question  the  wis- 
dom of  submitting  it  entirely  to  an  untutored  In- 
dian. There  were  in  the  part}'  two  young  men, 
medical  students  from  Boston.  Their  training 
taught  them  that  the  case  from  the  first  was  very 
serious.  They  watched  the  gathering  of  herbs 
and  roots  and  the  processes  through  which  they 
were  put,  as  well  as  the  altogether  original  treat- 
ment of  the  patient,  and  had  a  strong  interest  iu 
watching  the  development  of  tlie  disease. 

When  they  saw  the  triumph  of  these  simple 
remedies  over  disease  they  were  generous  enough 
to  acknowledge  their  admiration  of  the  Indian's 
skill,  and  admitted  to  Alan  tiie  wisdom  of  his 
decision,   as  well  as  their  belief   in  other  cura- 


I 


154 


TIIK   MASTKR   OF   DKKPI.AWN 


tivc  measures  than  tliose  taiiglit  in  the  schools. 
Toward  the  crisis  Gabe  liad  scarcely  left  the  sick 
boy,  while  Alan  noticed  on  his  face  the  pre-occu- 
pied,  intense  look  that  he  had  seen  in  times  of 
dancrcr,  when  they  were  shootinj,^  the  rapids  or 
facing-  a  sudden  squall  on  the  river. 


^ 


CHAPTER  XIII 

nOMK  AGAIN 

T^HE  Slimmer  under  the  trees  had  become  a 
memory  only,  the  tents  were  folded,  and  the 
canoes  turned  toward  civilization  as  soon  as  An- 
selmo  was  able  to  be  moved. 

To  say  that  tliere  was   re.q-ret  at  leavincr  the 
green,  quiet   places  under   the   trees,   the  shady 
pools  alonor  the  river  banks,  whicli  the  trout  had 
haunted  undisturbed  for  ages,  would  only  mildly 
express  the  sentiments  of  each   lad.     There  had 
not  been  a  single  case  of  homesickness  since  the 
steamer  sailed  out  of  Boston  liarbor,    until   that 
last  evening  under  the  trees,  as  thev  sat  talkino-  of 
the  past  and  future,  there  were  some  very  acute 
cases  ;  but  it  was  the  home  thev  were  leaving,  and 
not  the  tainted  abodes  whither  they  were  goino- 
that  caused  the  general  depression.  """ 

Anselmo  was  able  now  to  sit  up  with  the  bo}s 
for  an  hour  at  a  time,  listening  to  the  tales  of 
their  exploits  while  he  was  sick.  Nearly  all  of 
them  had  some  hair-breadth  escape  from  drownino- 
or  from  beasts  of  prey  to  relate,  but  as  much  of 
the  danger  existed  only  in  their  imaginations,  they 
were  mutually  forbearing-  in  their  criticisms. 

'55 


I 

1.1 


156  TIIK   MASTER   OF   DHKPLAWN 

Ansel  1110  surprised  them  by  his  gentleness  as  he 
listened  to  the  apocryphal  experiences  of  his  com- 
rades. He  did  not  once  hint  that  they  had  de- 
veloped an  alarmin<^  gift  for  lying  during  his  sick- 
ness. They  remarked  confidentially  with  each 
other  on  this  amazing  change,  speculating  about  its 
cause  and  if  it  did  not  portend  some  such  disaster 
as  death,  or  another  spell  of  sickness. 

Dandy  kept  his  own  counsel  ;  he  had  been 
taken  farther  into  Anselmo's  confidence  in  the 
long  hours,  when  he  alone  of  all  the  boys  had 
been  allowed  to  sit  with  the  sick  lad.  He  believed 
that  Anselmo,  notwithstanding  his  illness,  had 
found  something  better  than  anything  the  others 
had  gained  that  summer,  to  take  back  with  him 
to  the  troubled  life  from  which  he  had  enjoyed 
a  brief  respite. 

The  improvement  in  deportment  was  not  con- 
fined alone  to  Anselmo.  On  their  homeward  jour- 
ney in  the  steamer,  the  same  in  which  they  had 
come,  the  crew  remembered  the  youthful  voyagers 
very  distinctly,  and  were  quite  as  much  impressed 
with  the  change  as  the  lads  themselves.  It  was 
not  in  morals  and  deportment  alone,  but  they  had 
developed  healthfully ;  the  rosy,  sunburned  cheeks, 
and  well-rounded  forms  proved  that  there  had  been 
an  all-around  development.  While  they  waited 
in  St.  John's  for  the  steamer,  the  young  men 
had  taken  considerable  pride  to  get  their  youthful 


HO:\rK   AGAIN 


157 


squires  new  suits  of  clothes.  The  thirteen  lads 
walked  on  board  the  steamer,  that  September  day, 
with  a  sense  of  exhilaration  that  only  youth  well 
satisfied  with  thin;^s  in  .general  could  feel. 

As  they  steamed  down  the  harbor,  each  individ- 
ual amouL;  them  felt  that  his  personal  appearance 
was  the  special  object  for  admiration,  and  they 
were  so  busy  thinking;-  a])out  themselves,  they 
failed  to  notice  particularly  the  splendid  view  of 
clifif  and  harbor.  ICacli  young  man  regarded  his 
own  rosy-faced  boy  with  a  i^ratified  sense  of  own- 
ership. Although  few  of  them  acknowledged  it, 
most  of  the  young  men  knew  that  the  summer 
had  been,  on  the  whole,  the  very  best  in  their 
lives.  Yet  the  expense  had  been  a  mere  bagatelle 
compared  with  what  such  summers  usually  cost 
their  parents  or  guardians.  They  had  found  that 
helping  otlurs,  being  taken  out  of  self,  and  coming 
in  such  close  contact  with  cramped  lives,  to  whom 
even  the  simple  delights  of  nature  meant  so  much, 
had  done  them  more  good  than  a  lifetime  at  Long 
Branch  or  Saratoga. 

By  the  time  they  had  touched  the  wharf,  and 
the  city  sights  on  Commercial  Street  greeted 
them,  Anselmo  was  nearly  as  strong  as  ever ;  but 
Frank  Blake,  whose  special  property  he  had  been 
during  the  summer,  had  concluded  to  try  for  a  little 
longer  what  pure  food  and  air  would  do  for  his 
charge.    His  father  had  a  summer  residence  among 


^58 


THE   MASTHR   OK   DEHPLAWN 


the  bouldt'ison  tlieCilouccster  coast, within  easy  dis- 
tance of  Motlier  Ann's  nigged  profile,  and  thither 
he  intended  taking;-  the  lad  for  a  few  more  weeks. 
To  the  snrprise  of  his  comrades,  Ansel  mo  was 
eaiL^er  to  visit  the  single  room  in  an  alley  where 
his  parents  bnrrowed.  Mr.  Hlake,  to  the  snrprise 
of  his  connades,  offered  to  accompany  him  to 
Providence,  as  he  wished  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  what 
the  world  provides  for  some  of  its  inhabitants. 

After  reaching  Providence,  the  good-byes  of  the 
yonng  men  who  remained  were  spoken  linger- 
ingly,  Alan  staying  to  the  last.  When  he  was 
alone  with  the  twelve  remaininiif  boys,  he  had  a 
proposition  to  make  that  lifted  the  clond  that  had 
been  gathering  on  a  dozen  different  faces.  After 
a  conple  of  days  spent  with  their  friends  at  home, 
they  were  all  to  meet  him  at  the  railway  staticm, 
at  a  certain  honr,  to  go  with  him  to  Deeplawn  for 
a  week,  where  he  promised  they  shonld  have  a 
chance  to  get  acquainted  with  the  conntry,  as  the 
labor  of  man  had  modified  its  primal  conditions. 

Some  of  the  boys  knew  what  to  expect ;  others 
were  as  ignorant  of  farm  life  as  the  native  Fijian. 
They  said  good-bye  to  him,  and  went  qnite  con- 
tentedly now  on  their  way  homeward.  Those 
among  them  who  had  been  fortunate  enough  to 
have  been  favored  by  the  Fresh  Air  Fund,  en- 
deavored, to  the  best  of  their  ability,  to  describe 
their  impressions  of  fLUin  life,  bnt   their  experi- 


I 


HOMK    Ac;  A  IN 


159 


enccs  were  so  conflictlnj:;-,  and  at  the  best,  so  lim- 
ited, that  only  a  hazy  idea  conld  be  j^atheied  from 
all  put  together. 

''  Vou  can't  just  know  what  it's  like  till  you 
o;et  there,"  Bob  White  assured  them.  ''The  cows 
are  drove  in  from  the  pastures  at  ui<;ht,  and  their 
breath  smells  sweeter  than  scent.  One  of  tliem'll 
,:^ive  a  bi;;-  bucket  of  milk,  and  they  take  it  into 
a  milk  room  that's  built  ovei  a  brook,  and  they 
run  it  through  a  sieve,  and  after  that  it's  ready  for 
you  to  drink  all  you  want." 

Dandy  smacked  his  lips  as  he  thought  of  those 
possible  evening  draughts. 

"  Milking  time's  only  one  of  the  good  things," 
Mike  said,  loftily.  "  There's  horses  and  colts  and 
the  fowls — all  sorts  of  gabblin'  critters  the\-  are, 
too.  And  such  vittels  !  Arnold's  ain't  a  circum- 
stance to  it.  The  missus  laughed  when  I  asked 
her  if  she  put  hartshorn  in  her  cooking  to  make 
it  light,  same  as  they  do  here." 

"Does  she?"  one  of  them  asked,  anxiously. 

"  I  guess  not !  Country  people  has  other  things 
besides  pisen  stuff  to  make  their  cakes  look  well, 
real  butter  and  eggs,  and  things  like  them." 

"  I  wish  there  was  more  country  and  less  city, 
so's  we  could  all  be  among  the  cows  and  green 
things.  How  bad  things  smell  here,  anyway!" 
Jacob  Molensky  drew  his  breath  uncertainly. 
There    were   surely  very  different   odors    in    the 


i6o 


THH    MASTER   OF    I)!.KIM,A\VN 


sUifTy  court  which  they  were  just  entering-,  tlian 
upon  the  ])rcczy  uplands  of  those  \ast  Ncwfijuiid- 
Uiiid  solitudes. 

"  Injuns  ain't  to  be  as  much  pitied  as  us  folks 
what  lives  here.  They\'e  <;ot  plenty  of  room,  and 
if  their  camps  is  small,  they've  all  out  doors  to 
walk  'round  in,  besides  fishiu'  and  ,i;unniu',"  Mike 
said,  as  he  turned  up  a  rickety  flight  of  stairs  that 
led  to  the  u^arret  wdiere  his  parents  and  some  half- 
dozen  children  made  what  shift  they  could  in  two 
rooms  under  the  eaves.  The  buildiu*^  was  his^h, 
the  odors  increasinj^ly  unwholesome  as  they  as- 
cended. Kvery  one  of  the  boys  had  asked  to  ac- 
company Mike  as  he  was  the  first  one  to  reach 
home,  in  order  to  witness  his  welcome,  or  help  to 
protect  him  in  case  his  parents  were  in  liquor, 
which  was  their  usual  condition  when  funds  would 
permit. 

"  Say,  boys!  let  us  start  off  souitnvheres  in  the 
country,  and  j^et  ourselves  places.  We  can't  stay 
here  after  kiiowin'  what  o^ood  things  there  are." 
Mike's  face  looked  the  picture  of  despair  as  he 
spoke. 

"I'll  <^o  with  you  wherever  ye  likes,"  was  the 
wilHns^  response  from  several  of  the  boys. 

Alan  was  si)eculatinj^  that  day  as  he  glanced 
throm^h  the  car  windows  at  wholesome-lookinj^ 
farmsteads,  nestling  amid  meadows  and  quiet 
gardens,  if  it  were  really  a  kindness  to  these  poor 


HOME    AGAIN 


l6l 


waifs  to  give  them  glimpses  of  a  better  life,  and 
then  tnrn  them  adrift  again.  If  he  could  have 
followed  them  to  Mike's  abode  he  would  have  felt 
more  deeply  for  them  than  ever. 

They  halted  at  the  door.  Jacob  glanced  around 
at  the  dismal  scene.  "  I'll  go  with  ye,"  he  said 
valiantly.  "  We'd  not  be  tramps  anyway,  for 
we'd  be  lookin'  for  work." 

"  I  won't  stay  here  long,"  Mike  said,  as  the  dis- 
cordant cries  of  the  children,  mingled  with  oaths 
uttered  bv  a  woman's  shrill  voice  greeted  their 
ears.  "  I'd  sooner  be  a  tramp  or  dead."  This 
was  ccrtainlv  a  verv  unnatural  remark  for  a  bov, 
but  if  one  could  actually  see  the  place  he  called 
home,  the  woman  he  called  mother,  he  might  not 
be  surprised. 

"It's  no  use  waitin'  out  here.  We  might  as 
well  go  in,"  one  of  them  said  impatiently. 

Mike  pushed  open  the  door,  and  such  a  scene  of 
desolation  met  their  view  that  even  these  boys, 
accustomed  to  such  scenes,  turned  away  in  dis- 
gust. The  father  lay,  a  drunken  heap,  in  the 
corner;  the  mother  only  half-satisfied  with  the 
portion  falling  to  her  share,  was  dealing  blows 
among  !v  r  children,  to  guilty  and  innocent  alike. 
Flies  were  i.i  possession  of  the  puny,  starving 
infant  and  the  bloated  man.  j\Iike  stood  still  and 
looked  around.  His  mother's  attention  was  drawn 
to  the  door  and  seeing  Mike,  her  rage  suddenly 


!1 
i 

! 


l^>2  TIIK    MASTER   OK    DKKI'I.AWN 

turned  to  maudlin  affection.  She  att(  in})tcd  to 
clasp  him  in  her  arms  but  he  adroitly  eluded  her 
embrace  and  left  poor  Dandy  to  take  tlie  violent 
hug  that  made  him  fairly  groan. 

''It's  me  you're  kissin<»,  ma'am,  and  not  your 
own  boy,"  he  panted,  trying  witli  all  his  might  to 
disentangle  himself  from  the  grimy  arms. 

"  It's  no  differ,  for  ye're  a  luv  ov  ab'y ;  and  what 
a  foine,  dacent  crowd  ye  be!  "  She  still  steadied 
herself  on  Dandy,  looking  sweetly  around  on  the 
twelve  pairs  of  staring  eyes. 

"  I'd  scursely  known  wan  av  yez!  sich  clothes — 
ye  looks,  ivery  wan  av  ye,  loik  young  gentlemen. 
Now  ye've  surely  got  somethin'  in  yer  pockets  ; 
Michael,  darlint,  jist  run  to  the  corner  wid  the 
bottle,  and  get  me  somethin'  to  drink  yer  healths 
in.  Sorra  a  bite  have  I  got  in  the  house  the  dav, 
or  sup  ayther,  or  I'd  stand  treat  meself." 

She  staggered  to  the  table  and  got  tlie  bottle. 

"  I  have  no  money  to  buy  whisky  with.  If  I 
had  I'd  get  vittels  for  these  hungry  young  ones," 
he  said,  angrily. 

"  Whist  now,  or  ye'll  be  wakin'  him  ;  and  me  b'y 
ye  can  run  away  and  trade  off  them  foine  shoes 
ye've  got  on  ye.  B'ys  are  better  runnin'  barefut 
this  hot  weather,  anyway — or  the  bundle  in  yer 
hand,  ye  can  take  that." 

She  made  a  surge  toward  him  to  get  possession 
of  the  bundle  but  he  passed  it  to  Dandy. 


HOMK   AGAIN 


163 


s 

t 

r 


''  Take  tins  and  go  home  all  of  you.  If  she  is 
(hunk  she  is  my  mother,"  he  said,  with  crimson 
face. 

"Who  says  I'm  druu.k?"  she  screamed,  and 
nuide  a  plunge  at  the  nearest  boy,  but  he  dodged, 
and  for  a  few  seconds  there  was  a  scramble  to  see 
wlij  would  be  first  out  of  the  door.  Mike  held 
his  mother.  She  was  wild  now  with  anger  and 
greed.  That  precious  bundle  disappearing  through 
the  door  might  mean  a  good  many  drinks ;  but 
Mike  had  developed  in  muscle  as  well  as  flesh 
during  the  last  few  weeks,  and  she  felt  herself 
powerless  to  move,  while  he  clutched  her  so 
tightly. 

''Would  ye  see  your  own  mother  robbed  ?  "  she 
screamed. 

"  Fm  not  going  to  see  nieself  robbed  any 
longer,"  was  the  cool  reply,  as  he  loosened  his 
grasp  and  backed  carefully  out  of  the  room. 

"  It's  a  mean  home-coming  sure  enough,"  he 
muttered  as  he  picked  his  way  down  the  creaking 
stairs,  at  the  same  time  paying  scant  heed  to  the 
frantic  remonstrances  of  his  mother. 

''  I've  picked  up  many  a  supper  before  now,  and 
I  can  do  the  same  again,  but  it  comes  harder  after 
the  feastin'  I've  had,"  he  soliloquized.  "  Market 
waste  won't  taste  very  good  after  the  vittels  I've 
been  havin'. "  He  was  soon  standing  over  a  barrel 
of   garbage    outside    one    of    the    markets.     He 


I 


1 


164  THK   MASTKR  OV   DKKPLAWN 

managed  to  fish  out  some  partly  decayed  fruit  and 
a  carrot  or  two,  and  with  this  he  had  to  be  satisfied. 
Tlie  evening  fortunately  was  clear,  and  with  his 
stout  suit  of  clothes  he  could  be  very  comfortable 
curled  under  a  tree  in  one  of  the  squares,  where 
the  grass,  though  it  was  clipped  provokingly 
short,  was  yet  softer  to  lie  on  than  the  wooden 
seats. 

"  Blest  if  I  don't  have  something  softer  than 
this  for  poor  b'ys  when  Tm  an  alderman  !  "  He 
spoke  feelingly,  wishing  meanwhile  that  some  of 
those  great  stone  buildings,  for  the  most  of  the 
time  unoccupied,  could  have  some  of  their  empty 
spaces  fitted  up  with  hammocks  or  cots  for  just 
such  roofless  waifs  as  he  to  creep  into.  He  slept 
soundly,  notwithstanding  his  hard  bed  and  un- 
sheltered head,  waking  in  the  morning  with  an 
appetite  too  that  some  of  the  rich  men  sleeping 
hard  by  would  have  given  a  good  many  dollars  to 
possess— so  well-balanced  are  our  human  allot- 
ments. 

He  arose,  and  washing  his  face  at  one  of  the 
fountains,  proceeded  down  town  to  do  his  share  of 
disseminating  the  history  of  the  world  for  that  day. 
His  face  was  familiar  at  the  "Journal"  office,  for 
he  was  one  of  their  most  enterprising  salesmen,  and 
he  felt  certain  his  credit  would  be  <rood  enoujrh 
to  start  him  once  more  in  business.  He  was  the 
earliest  customer  on  the  ground,  and  was  able  to 


i 


HOME   AGAIN 


165 


explain  matters  so  satisfactorily  that  a  good  bundle 
was  entrusted  to  him,  when  he  started  out  feeling 
quite  sure  of  a  breakfast  and  some  capital  be- 
sides for  setting  up  in  business.  Before  nine 
tVclock  his  stock  of  papers  was  exhausted,  he  had 
settled  his  account  at  the  office,  and  was  strength- 
ened by  a  ))reakfast  that  made  full  amends  for  the 
shortage  of  supplies  the  preceding  evening.  He 
went  then  in  search  of  Dandy  and  his  bundle  of 
clothes. 

He  must  have  had  a  thrifty  ancestor  somewhere 
in  those  remote  Irish  bogs,  who  had  bequeatiied 
to  him  the  faculty  of  self-help  and  economy — not 
a  trifling  capital  for  any  boy  to  begin  the  world 
with.  Love  of  kindred,  that  mysterious  instinct 
we  find  in  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men,  and 
which  often  surprises  while  it  charms  us  and 
strengthens  our  faith  in  the  ultimate  uplifting  ot 
human  nature,  was  fully  developed  in  Mike.  He 
lingered  at  the  entrance  to  their  court,  hoping  to 
get  a  glimpse  of  some  member  of  his  fimily,  but 
in  vain,  so  he  passed  on  to  the  Dingwells'. 

When  he  entered  the  tidy  room  he  found  Dandy 
seated  in  a  rocking-chair,  looking  somewhat  fa- 
tigued, for  his  mother  and  sisters  had  kept  him 
steadily  talking,  with  only  imperative  interrup- 
tions for  food  and  sleep.  There  was  a  sudden 
lifting  of  countenance  when  he  saw  Mike,  and  he 
remarked,  plaintively  : 


l66  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  have  come,  for  my  tongue 
is  just  tired  out.  Won't  you  tell  them  about  our 
good  times  for  a  spell  while  I  am  resting?" 

"  I'd  not  mind  talking  if  I'd  had  such  a  home- 
coming as  this,"  ]Mike  said,  lugubriously. 

He  looked  at  the  gentle,  pale-faced  mother  in 
tidy  gown,  the  neat  little  girls  who  were  working 
as  industriously  as  their  mother,  the  brightly 
papered  room  with  not  a  speck  of  dirt  visible, 
and  the  cooking-stove,  whereon  was  simmering 
what  promised  to  be  a  most  delectable  dinner. 
Surely,  he  though'  any  boy  in  his  circumstances 
was  justified  in  uvying  Dandy  his  privileges. 
After  he  had  made  inquiries  about  his  bundle, 
IVIike  took  up  the  interrupted  account  of  their 
journeyings  which  in  Mike's  rhetorical  style  of 
telling,  seemed  quite  another  story  to  the  inter- 
ested listeners. 

The  work  lay  idle  in  the  little  girls'  fingers, 
and,  indeed,  very  often  Mrs.  Dingwell's  needle  was 
held  suspended,  while  she  listened  spellbound  to 
Mike's  account  of  their  marvelous  escapes  and 
surprising  experiences.  When  he  came  at  last  to 
Anselmo's  unexpected  bath  and  subsequent  ill- 
ness, the  tears  flowed  freely  from  the  mother's 
eyes,  as  she  thought,  what  if  it  had  been  her  own 
boy?  The  morning  sped  so  (puckly  and  Mike 
found  himself  so  satisfied  with  his  audience,  that 
they  were  all  surprised  when  they  discovered  it 


HOME   AGAIN  167 

was  nearly  dinner  time.  The  Dini^wtlls  were 
seldom  too  poor  to  share  their  dinner  with  a 
friend,  and  to-day  they  were  in  a  position  to  feel 
prond  to  extend  an  invitation  sinee,  in  honor  of 
Dandy's  home-comino-,  a  most  nnnsual  dinner  was 
in  conrse  of  jn'eparation. 

JMike  coidd  easily  find  space  for  a  dinner,  al- 
tlion<;h  he  had  planned  to  fast  nnlil  evenin*^  in 
order  to  get  some  funds  ahead.  What  a  happy 
feast  it  was !  A  real  home-made  dinner,  the 
like  of  which  Mike  had  never  tasted  at  home. 
They  luul  a  bit  of  shank  so  judiciously  stewtd  it 
tasted  better  than  an  ill-cooked  sirloin.  Added  to 
this  tliey  had  onions  and  parsnips,  cabba,!>;e  and 
yellow  turnips — a  genuine  Irish  stew,  with,  dum|)- 
lings  li;^ht  as  a  feather.  Then  there  was  a  dessert 
of  l)ananas  and  bread  and  milk — a  very  expen- 
sive feast  for  that  household,  but  they  did  not 
have  such  reunions  very  often. 

Dandy  now  was  so  plump  and  strong  and  well- 
clad,  lie  could  go  out  in  all  weathers  to  sell  his 
papers.  Besides,  he  had  grown  to  be  quite  a  fa- 
vorite with  many  of  the  newsboys,  his  companions 
through  tile  summer,  so  his  business  relations  on 
the  street  would  be  far  more  satisfactory  than 
heretofore.  Altogether  it  was  a  red-letter  day  in 
the  Diugwell  family,  one  they  would  all  remem- 
ber, no  matter  what  changes  for  the  better  might 
take  place  in  their  circumstances.     After  this  the 


^ 


1 68  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 

mother's  heart  did  not  grow  heavy  with  dread 
every  time  the  troublesome  cough  compelled  her 
to  lay  aside  her  work,  for  if  God  should,  before 
very  long,  take  her  to  himself,  her  children  wuidd 
not  be  utterly  friendless.  They  would,  also,  suou 
be  capable  of  looking  after  themselves. 

It  seemed  like  the  happy  days  of  the  past,  when 
she  was  a  girl  at  home,  ''away  down  Hast."  Her 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  all  these  descriptions  of 
the  country  were  as  familiar  to  her  as  the  faces  of 
her  children.  After  dinner  they  lingered  around 
the  table,  and  the  boys  talked  about  their  future 
quite  like  grown  men.  They  had  become  so 
enamored  with  country  life  that  they  had  lost  all 
relish  for  the  crowded  thoroughfares  and  the  daily 
shouting  the  fresh  editions  of  the  world's  crimes 
and  politics. 

They  were  planning  how  they  would  look  for 
situations  in  the  country  whither,  in  due  time, 
they  would  get  their  respective  families  removed 
from  the  grime  and  noise  of  the  city.  Mike  as- 
sured them  there  were  plenty  of  })laccs  strewn 
over  the  Union  where  not  a  drop  of  liquor  was 
within  walking  distance. 

"Wouldn't  that  be  the  place  to  take  your 
folks?"  Dandy  said,  eagerly. 

"  Yes,  and  I'll  get  there  yet,"  Mike  said,  with  a 
very  determined  air.  "  Wouldn't  it  be  fme  if  we'd 
get  places  near  each  other?" 


HOMR   AGAIN  i6q 

"I  dare  say  we  iiii^lit  if  we  tried,"  Dandy  an- 
swered, evasively.  He  could  not  truthfullv  re- 
spond to  Mike's  question  in  the  affirmative,  for 
Mike's  parents  and  brothers  and  sisters  did  not 
seem  to  him  desirable  neighbors,  by  any  means. 


ill 


CHAPTER  XIV 

AT   DKEPLAWN 

'T^IIK  hour  came  at  last  when  the  boys  were  to 
*-      y,o  to  Deeplawii.    They  met  at  the  station  an 
liour  earlier  than  the  time  appointed,  so  afraid 
were  they  that  Alan  mi!:;iit  ,i,^et  away  without  them. 
He  came  some  fifteen  minutes  before  the  time 
himself,  as  he  had  the  tickets  to  buy  for  the  twelve 
of  them,  and  fruit  and  luncheon  to  secure  as  well, 
for  he  knew  some  of  them,  if  not  all,  would  have 
very  oood  appetites  before  their  arrival.     They 
were  a  very  britrht-faced  party  of  boys,  although 
some  of  them    had   very  irrejrnlar   features,  and 
would  not  be  considered  good-looking  l)y  the  least 
critical  observer;  but  joy  is  certainly  a  beautifier, 
and  they  had  that  cosmetic  in  an  unlimited  de- 
gree.    They  ate  their  luncheon,  cracked  nuts  and 
jokes  together,  and  amused  themselves  so  well, 
that  they  scarcely  knew  where  the  time  had  gone 
when  they  reached  their  station.     Filing  out  on 
the  platform  they  found  carriages  waiting  to  take 
them  to  Doeplawn,  in  as  much  style  as  if  they  had 
been    university  students    instead    of    bootblacks 
and  newsboys.     Tliere  were  cottages  along  the  . 

way  for  a  mile  and  more,  which  Alan  told  them 
170 


AT  DKEPI.AWN 


I/I 


belon<^e(l  to  his  estate  and  were  the  homes  of  the 
farm  hands  and  their  families. 

'*  My,  bnt  they're  foine  places  to  be  a  livin'  in!" 
one  of  the  lads  said,  admirin;^ly  ;  a  remark  every 
other  boy  acqniesced  in  heartily.  When  they  en- 
tered the  avenne,  bordered  with  oak  and  chestnnt 
trees,  they  gazed  abont  in  amazement.  Tiie  pil- 
lared gateway,  and  the  long  vistas  throngh  the 
trees,  whence  conld  be  canght  glimpses  of  smooth 
meadows,  looked  better  even  than  the  forest  aisles 
in  Newfonndland.  As  they  drove  along,  gay 
flower-beds,  arbors,  and  the  ripple  of  water  from 
the  fonntains,  charmed  them. 

"  It's  cnrions,  when  God  loves  us  all  alike,  he 
gives  so  much  more  to  some  than  others,"  Billy 
Silencer,  a  native-born  American,  said,  discon- 
tentedly. 

*'  I  guess  there's  a  screw  loose  in  our  forbears. 
The  Lord  can't  pervide  the  hull  of  us  first-class 
parents ;  there  ain't  enough  to  go  round,"  a  meek 
lad,  whose  forbears  had  various  screws  loose,  said, 
while  he  cast  an  admiring  glance  around,  and 
then  added  :  "  We  wouldn't  be  ourselves  if  some- 
body else  had  been  our  father  and  mother." 

'*  I'd  not  care  a  cent  who  my  fatliei  was,  if  he'd 
only  leave  me  a  place  like  this,"  Jacob  Molensky 
said,  with  charming  indifTcrenee  to  the  relation- 
ship that  had  done  little  more  for  him  than  to  pro- 
vide a  body,  mostly  in  a  craving  condition. 


172  THE   MASTKR   OK    DKF.PLAWN 

''  I  wish' t  our  folksVl  all  been  llic  same  kind  's 
Ml.  Rivers'.  Anyway  I  mean  to  j;ive  my  boys 
and  girls  a  better  start  nor  I've  had,"  another 
stronji^- faced  boy  said,  with  decision. 

''  It's  looking;  a  lon<;  way  ahead,  don't  you  think, 
to  make  plans  for  your  children?"  Dandy  timidly 
inquired. 

''  ril  bej^in  early  so's  to  be  ready  for  'em." 

When  the  boys  reached  the  house  and  saw  the 
stately  projiortions  of  their  temporary  home,  they 
were  considerablv  abashed. 

'' Why,  it'.--,  handsomer  than  them  swell  houses 
on  the  ICast  vSide.  Jest  see  them  ^rcat  })()sts  with 
ridgeson'em;  what  lots  of  kindlin's  they'd  make!" 
Mike  could  admire  and  appreciate  the  value  of  the 
fluted  columns,  but  could  not  elegantly  express 
his  views. 

They  went  lingeringly  up  the  steps,  visions  of 
a  cool  rece])tion  from  the  women  of  the  house- 
hold flitting  before  them. 

"  I  wonder  '11  the  missus  be  willin'  for  us  crowd 
of  gafTers  to  come  among  all  this  finery?"  Mike 
whispered,  while  he  reflected  on  his  own  nu.i.ner's 
jjossible  wrath  at  such  an  intrusion. 

"  v^  ..y,  Mr.  Rivers,  '11  your  wife,  or  whatever 
woman  looks  after  things  here,  be  willin'  for  us 
fellers  to  come  onto  these  good  carpvts? "  Hilly 
vSpeiicer  asked,  anxiously. 

"  I  have  no  one  to  fmd  fault  with  me,  except  the 


AT  DKKPLAWX  17^ 

very  crood  woman  whom  I  hire  to  superintend  my 
house  ;  but  I  sliall  expect  you  hids  to  hcliave  lik- 
youn.14  «reiitlL'men.  You  can  romp  and  have  all 
the  lun  you  like  out  of  doors,  and  I  have  had  the 
gymnasium  refitted  for  you  in  ca.se  of  rain.  Vuu 
can  read  any  of  the  hooks  in  the  library,  look  at 
the  i)ictures,  and  have  just  the  same  privile<^^es 
that  ^rrown-up  jruests  would  have  ;  but  I  shall  ex- 
pect you  to  behave  with  the  same  propriety  in  the 
house  as  they  would." 

Mike  now  acted  as  spokesman. 

"We'll  do  evcrythinjr  we  can  to  plase  ye,  sor  ; 
but  now  and  then  we  may  for<^it— our  manners 
have  never  been  ])()lishcd— so  you'll  plase  to  re- 
member if  we  mis])ehaves,  it'll  be  for  want  of 
knowin'  better,  won't  it,  b'ys?"  He  appealed  to 
the  others,  who  were  standintr  looking  already  very 
much  like  culprits. 

''  Yes,  it  will,"  came  with  heartiness  from  them 
all. 

"Now  this  is  satisfactorily  settled,  I  will  show 
you  where  you  are  to  sleep.  It  is  the  custom,  ocu- 
eially,  after  a  day's  travelino;  to  wash  and  brush 
one's  self  a  little.  My  housekeeper  su,L,^<rcsted  fiUin;^^ 
up  what  used  to  be  the  schoolroom  for  this.  Vou 
can  splash  there  to  your  heart's  content." 

"We'd  jest  as  soon  wash  ourselves  outdoors  in 
some  clean  puddle,  if  it  w'd  save  the  woman 
trouble,"  Mike  said,  deferentially. 


171  THH    MASTl'.K    Ol'    DI'KIM.AWN 

Ik-  iVlt  a  JLi^rowiii*;  dcsiiv  to  j^ct  out  in  the  open 
air,  and  thus  escaj)c  tlic  conventionalities  and  in- 
tricacies of  modern  civilization  ;  but  Alan  took  no 
notice  of  his  modest  ofTer  as  he  led  the  way  uj)  a 
broad  Hij^ht  of  stairs,  over  carpets  that  ninfned 
every  footfall.  lie  halted  at  another  staircase  at 
the  l)ack  of  the  passaj^v  and  poinlini;  to  it,  said  : 

''Mrs.  Dixon,  the  housekeeper,  would  like  you 
to  use  this  stairway.  »She  has  lifted  the  carpet  so 
that  if  N'our  shoes  slioidd  be  muddy,  the  stains  can 
easily  be  washed  out." 

''We'll  be  sure  to  remember,"  Mike  promised 
i^ain  for  them  all. 

Alan  opened  a  door  near  by  that  led  into  a  large 
room,  fitted  up  with  beds  and  drcssin*^  tables. 

"  vSome  of  you  will  occupy  this  room,"  he  said, 
"  and  the  others  will  take  the  room  bevond.  They 
are  fitted  uj)  alike  and  you  can  make  your  own 
selection  of  beds.  When  you  <(et  older,  Vm  sure 
Mrs.  Dixon  will  have  no  objection  to  olTerini;  the 
best  }i^uest  chaml)ers  in  the  hou.sc  to  you,  l)ut  just 
now  she  is  inexorable." 

The  boys  stood  in  !.:;^rou])s,  surveyin,i^  the  saite 
of  rooms  apj)ropriated  to  their  use — the  white  beds, 
with  the  strips  of  carpet,  the  pictures,  and  soft, 
while  draperies  at  the  windows,  looped  back  with 
pink  ribbons. 

"  Why,  it's  better  'n  a  hospital !  "  was  the  first 
awestruck  ejaculation. 


AT    I>i;KI'I, AWN 


^7S 


Hospitals,  Iiithcrto,  liad  hocu  llicir  idral  of  com- 
ioiL  ill  llie  matter  of  l)c(ls,  hut  tlic-ir  admiration  for 
tlk'sc  Iia<l  not  htvii  unmixed  with  terror,  beeausc 
<)1  the  pain  tlky  liad  experienced  in  those  places 
themselves,  or  witnessed  in  their  friends. 

"  I  slumld  say  it  was,"  Mike  said,  with  a  loii-- 
(Irawii  si-h  „r  (kli-ht.  To  stretch  out  ..ii  one  of 
those  luxurious  beds,  and  tlieii  to  waken  in  the 
inoniin-  with  leisure  to  lie,  and  ihrouj-h  those 
drawn  curtains  look  over  the  fresh  country,  would 
Ix^  a  new  and  alto.^cther  beautiful  exiierience. 

"  I  am  ulad  you  are  satisfied  with  your  quar- 
ters," Alan  said,  quite  relieved,  "and  now  I  will 
show  you  our  jriounds  where  you  can  ^o  and 
come  at  pleasure."  He  pointed  throu-h  the  win- 
d)w  to  the  kitelien-«ranlen,  just  now  a  profusion 
of  all  sorts  of  ve.£,^etal)les,  and  boyond  tliat  to  the 
orchard,  witli  the  meadows  and  uplands,  where 
lierds  of  cattle  and  horses  v,-ere  ,<^ra/iii<^. 

''And  can  we  [ro  just  where  we  likes,  over  all 
thost-  places?"   Mike  asked. 

''Ves,  only  you  must  be  careful  not  to  injure 
anythiu.ir.  ()„  this  side  you  will  see  the  flower 
gardens.  Deeplawn  has  been  noted  for  its  flowers 
for  a  nrood  many  years.  The  hardener  will  j^ive 
you  permission  to  jro  throu^rli  that  at  any  time,  I 


am  sure." 


The  boys  thoucrht  the  fruit  orchanl  would  be 
the  favorite  pleasure  .i^round.    Alan  left  them  then, 


i       ! 


176  THK   MASTKK    OF   DKKn.AWN 

after  he  had  told  them  wlieii  they  were  to  come 
down  to  dinner.  They  washed  and  scoured  face 
and  liands  with  tlie  small  white  brushes  profusely 
supplied,  not  knowin<,^  exactly  for  what  purpose 
they  were  provided,  but  anxious  not  only  to 
present  a  clean  front  at  the  dinner  table,  but  als(3 
to  show  their  appreciation  of  the  useful  articles 
furnished. 

Mike  was  dili«i;ently  scourin.iT;  his  neck  when 
Dandy  came  from  the  window,  where  he  had  been 
linj^erinji^  by  himself  for  the  double  purpose  of 
givinj^  the  older  boys  the  first  chance  at  the 
basins,  and  of  lookinj^  at  the  beautiful  view. 

"Blest  if  we  know  what  these  little  tliin,u;s  is 
for ;  is  it  to  clane  out  the  wrinkles  do  ye  think  ?  '' 
Mike  suspended  his  scrubbing;  and  held  the  brush 
aloft  for  Dandy's  inspection,  his  face  and  neck  a 
brilliant  hue  from  its  vij^^orous  application. 
Why,  they  are  to  clean  the  teelh  with." 
Oh  !  "  Mike's  ejaculation  expressed  relief  not 
unmixed  with  contempt. 

'*  If  they'll  <^ive  us  plenty  to  ate  we'll  clane  our 
teeth  without  these  bristles.  What  faudanj^les 
the  quality  do  be  havin'!  No  wonder  they  mostly 
has  a  tired  look  rememberin'  av  all  their  etcetervs," 
but  Mike  proceedt.d  forthwith  to  scour  a  set  of 
milk-white  teeth  that  nature  hitherto  had  at- 
tended with  better  than  a  dentist's  care. 

'*  It's  a  decline  Til  be  after  fallin'  into  if  I  keep 


AT   DKI'.PI.AWN  17/ 

on  spittin  blood  like  that,"  he  said,  laying  the 
brnsh  aside. 

"  Yon  ninst  not  nib  so  hard,"  Dandy  sng^ested. 

''  Unipli  !  I  gness  that  rnbbin'  '11  do  till  I'm  an 
old  man." 

Their  toilets  were  completed  long  before  the 
dinner  bell  rang,  i)Ut  the  lime  did  not  hang 
heavily  on  their  hands,  for  there  were  the  pictnres 
that  hnng  on  their  wall  to  be  examined  and  those 
other  pictnres  framed  by  the  windows,  orchards 
laden  with  frnit,  hnge  trees  with  splendid  oppor- 
tnnities  for  climbing  and  with  no  gruil  policemen 
standing  gnard. 

"Boys,  I  wish  this  week  'nd  last  till  we  was 
men  ^^rowcl.  Won't  it  be  hard  to  go  back  to  them 
courts  and  alleys  ?  "   Mike  said,  solemidy. 

The  bell  rang  and  no  one  waited  to  reply.  Tlicy 
went  tnooping  downstairs  rather  uncertainly,  but 
to  their  relief  found  a  maid  wailing  for  them. 
»She  led  the  way  into  a  large  dining  room,  where 
a  table  was  laid  with  an  elegance  that  added  con- 
siderably to  their  embarrassment.  Alan  was 
seated  at  one  end,  an  elderly  lady  in  a  black  silk 
gown  and  lace  cap  at  the  other. 

"  Mrs.  Dixon,  these  are  our  young  friends.  You 
will  learn  their  names  by  degrees,  but  I  will  in- 
troduce the  two  lads  who  sit  nearest  you,"  and  he 
fortliwith  presented  Dandy  atid  Jacob  Molensky. 

Mrs.   Dixon  bowed  politely,   but  at  the  same 

iM 


178 


TIIH    MASTHR    OK    DK HIT. AWN 


time  f^lanccd  anxiously  down   each  side   of  the 
lon<^  table. 

She  had  been  mistress  in  that  house  since  Alan 
was  a  bal)y,  and  felt  an  owner's  pride  in  the  hand- 
some appointments  of  the  dinner  table.  These 
boys  would  be  sure  to  .spill  tea  and  <^ravies  on  the 
damask  cloth,  while  the  dainty  <;lass  and  china 
would  not  be  .safe  in  their  unaccustomed  fininers  ; 
but  Alan  said  they  must  come  to  the  tabic  with 
him,  and  .she  was  too  loyal  to  let  him  .sit  down  to 
anythin<>^  inferior.  She  was  not  prepared  for  the 
reverent  attitude  of  each  individu;d  amonir  them 
while  <;racc  was  said.  Her  own  eyes  were  the 
only  pair  unclosed,  which  was  .somewhat  reas- 
suriu}^.  AUhou,!:;h  the  dinner  disappeared  with 
uncommon  celerity  there  was  no  up.setlinj^  or 
smashinji^  of  dishes.  If  .she  could  have  realized 
what  a  revelation  that  dinner  was  to  those  Ix^ys, 
what  a  civilizini;  cflfect  it  had  on  their  uncultured 
natures,  she  would  have  examined  the  no  lonsj^er 
spotless  table  napery  with  more  equanimity. 

They  restrained  their  feelings  until  they  were 
well  out  of  si<rlit  of  the  house ;  then  there  was  a 
sudden  efTerve.scence  of  spirits.  Alan  smiled  as 
he  stood  on  the  doorstep,  while  the  niino;led 
whoops  and  shrieks  of  joyous  merriment  came 
floatinjr  on  the  perfumed  air.  He  thought  how  he 
would  have  cnjo\  ed  this  merry  crowd  a  few  years 
ago,  then  said  to  himself: 


!\ 


AT  DI'.KPLAWN  1 79 

*'  I  enjoy  it  more  now  than  I  wonld  have  done 
tlien.  I  nnderstand  better  what  it  means  for 
tliem." 

The  boys  had  been  let  loose  in  the  orchard  with 
tlie  sinj^le  request  not  to  break  the  linil)s.  What 
a  <4lini])se  it  was  of  the'abnndaiicc  onr  world  has 
of  good  thini^s  for  man,  those  loaded  limbs  of 
apple,  peach,  pear,  and  plum  trees!  They  had 
eaten  all  they  wanted  at  dinner,  but  digestion 
was  rapid  with  them,  and  those  fruit  trees  were 
enough  to  tem])t  the  most  delicate  appetite. 
There  was  probably  a  bushel  less  fruit  growing 
on  the  trees  when  the  twelve  boys  walked  leisurely 
towanl  tlie  house  in  the  late  afternoon.  Alan 
dispatched  them  early  to  bed.  Me  wanted  them 
to  have  the  very  best  of  everything  during  that 
brief  week,  and  the  morning  hours  he  considered 
the  best  time  for  them  to  examine  into  nature's 
wonderful  provisions  for  man's  needs. 

They  needed  no  bells  to  waken  them.  The 
more  alert  among  their  number  were  up  and  away 
at  sunrise  exploring  the  hills  and  pasture  lands, 
where  colts  of  every  size  were  disj)orting,  with 
staid  brood  mares  an<l  higli-stej)ping  horses.  What 
possible  use  could  be  made  of  two-score  horses  was 
more  than  Mike  could  nnderstand.  lie  was  afraid 
there  was  unnecessary  waste  in  the  matter,  and  he 
resolved  to  give  some  judicious  advice.  After 
breakfast  he  introduced  the  subject  to  Alan. 


v> 


l8o  THE    MASTER   OK    DKKPLAWN 

"  It  seems  to  me,  sor,  ye've  a  lot  more  horses 
than  are  a  profit  to  ye."  He  always  fell  into  his 
richest  brogne  when  excited. 

"  Why,  Mike,  our  horses  are  the  best  investment 
we  have.  vSonie  of  those  colts  clear  nie  a  thou- 
sand dollars.  I  hope  \'ou  bo\s  will  be  careful  not 
to  interfere  with  them,  not  even  to  lay  a  hand  on 
them.  Tliev  are  easilv  blemisiieil,  and  a  blemish 
on  some  of  them  would  cost  me  as  much  as 
my  summer's  trip,  with  your  expenses  into  the 
barj^ain." 

*'  Ye  don't  say  so ! "  Mike  was  amazed. 
"Why,  I  was  plannin'  to  have  a  ride  on  the  back 
av  wan  av  them  little  fellers ;  they  looked  mighty 
enticin'." 

Mrs.  Dixon,  who  was  present,  could  hold  her 
peace  no  longer : 

"  If  you  ever  do  such  a  thing,  we  shall  send 
you  home  that  very  day.'' 

Alan  smiled  at  her  fears. 

"  You  need  not  be  anxious,  these  boys  can  be 
trusted,  every  one  of  them." 

She  did  not  fail  to  notice  the  glad  look  that 
came  into  every  face,  and  felt  assured  that  not  a 
boy  among  them  would  molest  the  poorest-look- 
ing nag  in  the  pasture.  After  breakfast  Alan 
took  them  to  another  pasture,  where  there  were 
several  large-limbed  horses  quietly  feeding.  At 
the  sound  of  his  voice  they  came  crowding  to  the 


AT    DKKPI.AWN  l8l 

ji^alc,  when  lie  took  a  Iniiip  of  sugar  from  his 
jMxket  for  each,  then  catchinj^  two  of  them,  he 
let  Mike  mount  one  and  Dandy  the  other.  Mike 
i* lanced  down  on  tlie  other  boys  triumphantly, 
Dandy,  with  a  countenance  that  plainh- expressed 
his  wiliinj^ness  to  chanj^e  positions  with  any  boy 
who  wished.  The  horse  walked  so  soberly  down 
the  lane  he  [gradually  lost  his  fears,  and  when  he 
came  safely  through  the  meadow  gate  he  began 
to  feel  as  if  he  and  the  horse  were  fairly  well 
adapted  to  each  other. 

Alan  showed  the  boys  how  to  harness  and  put  the 
horses  into  a  farm  wagon.  Tiien  they  all  climbed 
into  the  wagon,  and  he  let  them  take  turns  driv- 
ing on  the  way  to  a  distant  field,  where  the  har- 
vesters were  at  work  gathering  in  sojr>e  late  grain 
An  exciting  time  they  had,  building  the  loads, 
driving  the  horses  to  the  huge  stacks  and  unload- 
ing. They  were  surprised  when  the  dinner- 
horns  sounded  from  the  farmhouses  down  in  the 
lower  fields.  Alan  promised  to  let  them  come 
again  after  dinner.  He  was  in  his  shirt  sleeves, 
working  as  diligently  as  any  man  there. 

"  Do  you  like  to  work?  "  Dandy  asked,  as  they 
rode  home  together. 

"  Yes,  sometimes  I  think  it  would  be  the  liaj> 
piest  lot  to  work  a  snug  little  farm,  and  to  have 
nothing  else,  only  a  happy  home  where  some  one 
would  always  be  glad  to  see  me  come  in." 


» 


t 


182  THK   MASTHR   Ol-    DKKPI.AWN 

"  I  should  think  you  nii^ht  easily  have  that," 
Dandy  suj^j^cstcd. 

*'  (lod  skives  other  duties  and  a  wider  sphere  to 
some  of  us.     In  whatever  slate  we  are  we  sliould  ^^ 

be  content,  and  I  try  to  be."  i 

"  I  don't  kuDW  of  any  one  in  all  the  world  who  ' 

has  as  nnieh  as  you,  but  nia\be  the  Lord  made  ^ 

us  so  we  never  eould  be  (juite  eontented." 

"Who  told  you  that.  Dandy?" 

"I  don't  know  if  any  one  did.  You  see  one 
thinks  thin^rs  tlieniselves,  sometimes." 

"The  subjeet  of  divine  discontent  is  rather  a 
deej)  one  for  a  lad  like  you."  { 

"  I  never  remember  thinkiii<^  anythin,!:;  like 
that,  .sir,"  Dandv  said,  humblv.  He  did  not  wisli 
to  get  credit  for  brighter  thoughts  than  he  eould 
honestly  claim.  i 

On  their  way  home  Alan  sujL^u^ested  to  the  boys 
that  there  miglit  be  other  amusements  they  would 
enjoy  more  than  working  in  the  harvest  field,  l)ut 
they  assured  him  nothing  could  be  better.  The 
harvesters  enjoyed  the  fun,  and  also  enjoyed  hav- 
ing the  young  master  working  like  one  of  them-  I 
selves.  The  moon  was  climbing  above  the  hori- 
zon when  they  left  the  harvest  field.  As  they 
curled  up,  tired  but  very  happy,  on  a  bundle  of 
straw  in  the  creaking  wain,  they  fell  to  planning  t 
how  they  would  become  farmers  at  once.  lM»r  a 
few  months  they  would  hire  out  until  they  could 


i 


AT  DFJ^PLAWN  183 

get  a  bit  of  land  upon  which  to  build  some  sort  of 
habitation,  where  they  would  settle  their  parents. 
As  Alan  listened  to  their  low-spoken  confidences 
on  that  evening;  ride,  with  the  moon  castin*^  lonj^- 
shadows  across  their  patli,  he  be.i;an  to  make  plans 
in  their  behalf  of  which  they  were  little  con- 
scions.  He  determined  that  what  had  been  one 
summer's  pastime  should  continue  throu*;h  future 
years  as  a  serious,  earnest  efibrt.  He  would  still 
continue  the  course  of  study  mapped  out  and  then 
enter  .some  i)ursnit  to  which  he  mi,i;ht  be  called, 
but  this  work  should  always  have  a  share  in  his 

f  time.     He  had  penetrated  (piite  far  into  his  future 

by  the  time  the  boys  clambered  down  at  the  barn- 
yard |L;ate  an  1  watched  the  unliarnessin<j  of  the 
horses. 

i  The  next  day  Mr.  Dollivcr  arrived.     At  dinner 

he  beamed  benevolently  on  the  double  row  of 
youthful  fices.  Mike  was  particularl\-  ])leased 
with  the  old  man,  while  the  natural  reverence  he 
felt  for  the  clerj^y,  with  the  cavalier  manner  in 
which   his  friendly  overtures   had   been  received 

I  hitherto,    made    him    all    the   more   open   to  the 

kindly  ways  of  the  venerable  minister.  Mike 
had,  in  a  day  or  two,  become  such  an  expert 
driver  that  Alan  let  him  take  the  minister  for  his 

(  drives,  and   these    Mike   found    ver\-   inlerestin<;. 

He  was  surprised  at  the  extent  of  Mr.  DoUiver's 
knowledi»e  of  the  people  for   miles  around,  and 


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vV 


184  THE   MASTER  OE   DEEPLAWN 

such  interesting  stories  as  he  could  tell  about  what 
had  happened  there  during  the  last  forty  years — 
the  joys  and  the  tragedies ;  for  there  were  the  lat- 
ter, as  must  always  be  the  case  wlierever  there  are 
human  beings.  Mike  was  particularly  impressed 
with  Mr.  DoUiver's  prayers  He  used  to  pray  so 
earnestly  that  they  might  grow  up  to  be  good 
men  and  be  kept  from  the  evil  influences  that  sur- 
rounded them,  that  at  many  a  prayer  time  IMikc's 
eyes  would  fill  with  tears  and  he  would  have  hard 
work  to  conceal  them. 

Mrs.  Dixon  encouraged  them  to  go  picnick- 
ing nearly  every  day,  and  she  and  the  maids  com- 
pounded good  things  for  the  occasion  with  great 
cheerfulness.  It  was  a  relief  to  get  the  boys  as 
far  away  as  possible.  After  the  long  stillness  to 
which  she  had  grown  accustomed,  the  sudden  in- 
vasion of  a  dozen  boys  was  very  trying  to  her 
nerves.  Mike  proving  the  best  driver,  he  was  al- 
ways entrusted  with  one  of  the  wagon  loads  of 
boys,  v/hile  Alan  led  the  way  with  the  rest. 

One  day  their  drive  was  to  be  extended  beyond 
the  usual  length,  and  both  dinner  and  supper  had 
to  be  provided,  since  they  would  reach  home  only 
at  bedtime.  They  started  in  the  early  morning. 
The  objective  point  of  the  expedition  was  a  lake 
in  the  woods  where  there  were  some  fine  trout. 
The  fishing  privilege  belonged  to  Alan,  but  the 
land  adjacent  was  owned  by  others. 


1 


\ 


AT  DEEPLAWN  185 

:\Irs.  Dixon  and  the  maids  had  packed  the  ham- 
per of  provisions  the  preceding  evening.  When 
it  was  being  placed  in  the  wagons  the  boys  con- 
chuled  there  wonld  be  enongh  to  last  several  days, 
forgetting  what  appetites  they  always  had  in  the 
woods. 

The  snn  was  beginning  to  grow  hot  when  tney 
turned  off  into  the  welcome  shade  of  the  forest 
track,  where  the  limbs  sometimes  brushed  their 
faces,  while  far  overhead  stray  bits  of  sunshine 
could  be  caught  through  the  leafy  spaces.  They 
found  the  lake  hidden  in  a  perfect  bower  of  green. 
Great  hard-wood  trees  guarded  its  shores  and  hung 
reflected  in  its  bosom.  Everything  was  so  quiet 
the  boys  for  a  while  hushed  their  laughter  and 
shouts,  and  stood  with  the  sober  propriety  of  gen- 
uine anglers,  rod  in  hand,  waiting  for  the  fish  to 
bite. 

The  fishing,  however,  was  not  like  that  in  New- 
foundland. The  trout  were  wary  and  only  at  long 
intervals  did  one  take  the  hook,  but  this  was 
enough  to  keep  the  lads  interested,  and  there  was 
also  a  witchery  in  the  surrounding  scenery,  which 
had  been  fashioned  by  nature  in  one  of  her  gen- 
tlest moods.  The  catch  for  that  day,  though,  con- 
sisted principally  of  the  more  youthful  members 
of  the  trout  family. 

For  any  who  should  come  to  make  a  prolom^ed 
stay  at  the  lake,  there  was  a  log  cabin  and  fire- 


l86  THE  MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

place.  The  boys  examined  the  furnishings  of  the 
primitive  abode,  which  went  by  the  name  of  Camp 
Content,  with  an  eagerness  that  made  Alan  think 
they  were  truly  in  earnest  about  migrating  to  the 
country. 

"Isn't  it  jolly  here?"  Mike  said,  as  he  finished 
his  survey  and  came  to  the  fireplace  where  Alan 
was  superintending  the  preparation  for  dinner. 
"  Could  a  body  come  here  and  settle  on  the  land 
without  paying  for  it?"  he  asked,  anxiously. 
"  They  might  be  turned  off"  by  the  owners." 
Alan's  reply  was  absently  given ;  the  trout  were 
simmering  in  the  pan,  and  he  was  not  an  expert 
cook.  Indeed,  it  required  his  undivided  attention 
to  look  after  the  frying-pan  alone.  He  had  many 
a  time  visited  his  laborers'  cottages,  and  knew 
much  more  than  average  young  men  of  his  class 
respecting  the  manner  of  living  among  working 
people ;  and  to-day  as  he  was  wrestling  with  the 
problem  of  trout  cooking,  he  was  reflecting  with 
considerable  admiration  on  the  deft  way  house- 
wives can  superintend  the  preparation  of  half  a 
dozen,  different  dishes,  and  perhaps  at  the  same 
time  hush  a  crying  baby.  Mike  waited  until  the 
trout  were  turned  and  then  renewed  the  conver- 
sation. 

"  Would  the  owners  mind  if  a  body  settled  down 
here  and  built  a  house  like  this  ?  Sure  the  place 
be's  jest  runnin'  to  waste." 


AT  DHEPLAWN  187 

"  Land  owners,  as  a  rule,  are  not  in  favor  of 
having  p-ople  settle  on  their  land  ;  it  is  often  diffi- 
cnlt  to  dislodge  them." 

"  If  I'd  pay  rent  they'd  not  want  to  get  me  off?" 

"  How  could  you  earn  money  for  that,  and  to 
feed  and  clothe  yourself  besides?" 

''Wouldn't  the  farmers  hire  me?  Wouldn't 
they  be  willin'  to  help  a  feller  get  away  from  our 
court  to  where  he'd  be  able  to  live  clane  and 
dacent?" 

"  I  think  you  will  find,  somewhere,  a  green 
spot  in  which  you  may  grow  up  to  honest  man- 
hood. Maybe  that  is  part  of  my  calling,  to  help 
such  as  you  to  be  tillers  of  the  soil." 

Mike's  face  flushed. 

"  I'm  not  manin',  sor,  for  you  to  do  it  for  me.    If 
you'd  hire  me  to  work  for  you  like  them  other 
b'ys  and  men   you  have,   I'd  be  obliged  to  ye. 
Maybe  ye'd  speak  to  some  other  farmer  for  me." 

''  The  trout  are  done  now,  and  we  will  have  our 
dinner  before  we  settle  so  important  a  matter  as 
your  future." 

Mike  was  very  well  content  with  his  partial 
answer.  He  was  a  good  judge  of  character  and 
quite  observing,  and  in  his  past  iniercourse  with 
Alan  he  had  found  fulfillment  always  far  exceeded 
his  promises.  W'hen  they  rose  from  dinner  he 
lured  the  boys  to  the  other  side  of  the  lake,  where 
they  indulged  in  a  luxurious  bath,  and  then  began 


1 88  THE  MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

speculating  on  lionse  building.  Even  Jacob  Mo- 
lensky  reckoned  it  would  be  more  like  living  to  be 
on  a  bit  of  land  in  the  country  with  cows  and  hens 
to  work  for  him,  than  to  be  selling  newspapers  and 
starving  part  of  the  time  in  the  city. 


L 


i 


CHAPTER  XV 

FARM    LABORERS 

MIKE'vS  question  led  Alan  to  think  very  se- 
riously if  it  might  not  be  possible  to  get 
work  for  the  boys  who  preferred  country  life,  and 
for  their  parents  as  well.  He  was  not,  as  yet,  a 
political  economist,  but  the  overcrowded  state  of 
cities  generally  and  the  consequent  degradation  of 
the  poorer  classes  had  caused  him  a  good  many 
perplexed  thoughts.  But  there  the  matter  might 
have  rested  with  only  a  few  summer  holidays  for 
some  of  the  lads,  as  results. 

If  he  could  convey  a  dozen  or  so  families  from 
those  congested  districts  to  the  country  and  get 
them  interested  in  farm  life,  it  would  be  some- 
thing accomplished  in  the  great  work  of  restoring 
the  equilibrium  between  rural  and  town  life  ;  but 
more  than  that,  it  would  revolutionize  the  lives  of 
those  concerned  more  beneficially  than  acts  of 
State  or  entire  lecture  courses  on  the  subject. 
Every  summer  it  was  necessary  to  import  farm 
laborers  from  a  distance.  In  some  cases  these  men 
were  both  vicious  and  incompetent,  and  wrought 
more  evil  among  their  work-fellows  than  Mr. 
Dolliver  could  overcome  in  a  year.     If  they  could 

189 


190  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 

get  periiiaiient  settlers,  with  a  bit  of  land  of  their 
own  to  till,  to  help  at  such  busy  seasons,  it  would 
be  a  mutual  gain. 

He  conferred  with  neighboring  landowners  on 
the  subject,  but,  as  a  rule,  they  did  not  encourage 
such  immigration  from  the  cities.  They  assured 
him  the  risk  was  heavy.  They  might  fall  sick 
on  their  hands,  or  turn  out  idle  and  vicious,  per- 
haps rob  gardens  and  hen-roosts  and  commit 
other  depredations  that  would  ultimately  lessen 
the  value  of  land  in  their  vicinity.  A  few,  how- 
ever, gave  a  hesitating  consent  to  employ  these 
new  importations  if  Alan  chose  to  incur  the  ex- 
pense of  set.iing  them  near  by  on  his  own  property. 

The  season  then  was  far  advanced,  but  there 
were  always  jobs  to  be  done,  and  as  the  farmers  in 
the  valley  were  a  thrifty  class  of  men,  there  was 
little  idle  time  with  them  the  year  round.  Alan  re- 
solved to  settle  his  immigrants  as  far  apart  as  pos- 
sible, thinking  it  would  be  a  mutual  benefit  to 
them  to  see  as  little  of  each  other  as  might  be, 
while  their  chances  for  work  would  be  all  the 
better.  He  decided  to  secure  ^  .t  the  names  ot 
tliose  willing  to  come  to  the  country,  and  after- 
ward to  see  about  getting  them  settled — a  very 
wise  plan,  as  he  later  on  discovered. 

The  last  day  of  their  visit  at  Deeplawn  had 
come,  and  a  very  blue  day  it  was  to  every  one  of 
the  boys.    Jacob  Molensky  was  a  worse  socialist 


FARM    LABORERS  H)l 


than  ever,  and  could  hardly  forgive  Akin  for 
having  so  much  more  than  his  share  of  worldly 
goods. 

Mike  remembered  with  painful  distinctness  his 
home-coming  of  a  fortnight  ago,  but  he  was  a 
strong-fibered  lad  and  kept  up  a  cheerful  counte- 
nance till  the  last.  Mrs.  Dixon  and  the  maids, 
however,  watched  the  procession  departing  with 
great  satisfaction,  having  first  ascertained  that  the 
boys  had  not  abstracted  spoons  or  other  valuables, 
as  might  reasonably  have  been  expected. 

Alan  went  with  them.  In  order  to  get  the 
families  settled  in  the  country,  it  would  be  neces- 
sary for  him  to  lose  a  week  or  two  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  term,  but  a  little  extra  study  would 
soon  bring  him  up  with  the  rest. 

On  the  way  he  explained  his  intentions  fully  to 
the  boys  and  what  would  be  expected  from  them 
in  return.  Their  parents  and  brothers  and  sisters, 
old  enough  to  work,  could  all  get  employment  of 
some  kind,  and  if  the  pay  was  not  very  high, 
neither  would  their  expenses  be  heavy.  Each 
family  would  have  a  separate  cottage  with  a  gar- 
den, where  they  might  raise  all  the  vegetables  for 
their  own  use  another  year.  The  boys  were  jubi- 
lant, and  already  held  themselves  with  all  the  dig- 
nity of  prospective  landowners. 

Mike,  on  the  whole,  was  gifted  with  the  best 
business  ability,  so  he   was   deputed    to  canvass 


192  THE   MASTER   OF   DERPLAWN 

among  the  families  and  see  how  many  would  be 
willing  to  emigrate  at  once.  He  had  a  very  busy 
day,  beginning  at  his  own  household,  and  a  very 
discouraging  one,  for  not  a  single  family  would 
listen  to  his  proposals  but  the  widow  Dingwell. 
He  presented  himself  before  Alan  the  following 
evening  looking  the  picture  of  despair,  for  he  had 
the  mercurial  temperament  of  the  genuine  Celt. 

"  Not  a  mother's  son  av  'em  '11  come  but  that 
poor  widdy  Dingwell.  She's  fair  foolish  at  get- 
ting out  there,  she's  that  glad." 

"  Your  parents,  then,  won't  come  ?  " 
"  They  say  not  a  fut  av  them  '11  go  out  among 
the  stumps,"  and  Mike  became  deeply  absorbed 
in  the  view  from  the  window. 

"You  can  come  without  them.  Some  dav, 
after  you  have  earned  a  good  home,  you  may  be 
able  to  entice  them  to  come  also." 

"  I  mean  to  go,  if  you'll  have  me ;  but  it's  the 
little  chaps  I'm  worritin'  about.  They'll  grow 
up  afore  I  get  a  house  aimed,  and  be  spilt  intirely 
by  that  time."  Mike  cleared  his  throat,  but  it 
sounded  more  like  a  sob.  "  It's  no  use,  I  can't 
be  stayin'  here  after  the  sup  I've  had  av  clane  air 
and  vittels,  and  I  tould  me  father  so." 
"  What  did  your  father  say  ?  " 
"He  just  swore,  that  was  all;  but  I'm  goin'  all 
the  same."  Mike  spoke  with  quiet  determination, 
but  Alan  looked  perplexed. 


, 


FARM    LABORERS  ic;^ 

"  I  cannot  take  you  without  your  father's  con- 
sent. ' ' 

"  Every  boy  av  the  crowd  is  goin',  and  you'd 
surely  not  make  me  stay  behind?"  The  tears 
stood  now  unconcealed  in  IMike's  eyes. 

"  I  will  have  a  talk  with  your  father  myself." 

'^  Will  you  please,  sor,  to  come  airly,  afore  he 
goes  to  the  saloon  ?  You  have  no  idee  what  sort 
of  folks  the  Lord's  pervidcd  me  with.  I'll  jnst 
tell  them  the  night  you're  comin',  and  maybe 
they'll  keep  straight."  Mike's  cheeks  shone  like 
peonies  when  he  spoke  of  the  parents  whom  Alan 
assured  him  it  was  lis  duty  to  obey. 

The  following  morning  the  visit  was  made. 
As  Alan  walked  along  looking  for  the  court  where 
Mike  lived,  he  saw  the  lad  waiting  for  him. 

"  They're  both  sober  the  morn',  and  me  mother's 
fixed  up  considerable  for  you,"  he  ..aid,  with 
much  satisfaction.  "  It's  jest  in  this  way  and  up 
that  flight  of  stairs ;  they  look  weak  like,  but 
tliey're  stronger  nor  ye'd  think."  Mike  went 
nimbly  up,  followed  more  circumsiDectly  by  his 
friend,  for  the  prospect  was  not  reassuring. 

"  Ye  might  jjst  tuck  your  watch  and  diain  in 
your  trouser  pocket.  Sometimes  folks  gets  robbed 
round  here."  Mike  spoke  in  a  whisper  as  he 
paused  at  the  door. 

Alan  did  as  he  was  advised  and  then  pushed 
boldly  in  after  his  guide.     Such  squalor,  such 


. 


19  ^  'i'"J"'    MASTKR   OF   DKKPLAWN 

horrible  slights  and  odors  as  greeted  him,  he  could 
never  for«;et.  Mike's  parents  were  evidently  wait- 
in  o-  for  their  visitor,  while  Alan  was  equally  anx- 
ious to  proceed  to  business.  Pie  plunged  at  once 
into  the  subject  without  any  circumlocution. 

"Will  you  let  Mike  come  to  the  country  to 
work  with  the  farmers?" 

"Oi  jist  wull,  if  yez'll  pay  for  his  worruk  ; 
but  no  b'y  ov  nioine  'ill  slave  for  rich  folks  for 
nuthin',"  said  the  father. 

"  His  wages  for  some  time  will  amount  to  very 
little,  but  he  will  have  good  food  and  abundance 
of  it,  with  warm  clothing." 

"  Do  ye  mane  to  say  a  great  b'y  like  him  '11  only 
get  vittels  and  clothes  ?  "  he  asked,  fiercely. 

"He  must  make  the  best  bargain  he  can  with 
the  farmers,  but  can't  expect  to  earn  much  above 
his  own  needs  at  first."  Alan  spoke  firmly,  looking 
the  man  sternly  in  the  face.     Mike  interposed  : 

"  Ye'd  better  let  me  go  with  the  gentleman,  for 
if  ye  don't,  ye'U  be  sorry,  that's  all  I've  got  to 
say." 

"  Oi'll  tache  ye  to  talk  perliter  nor  that  to  yer 
father,"  he  cried,  aiming  a  blow  at  his  first-born, 
but  striking  the  door  instead,  which  enraged  him 
more  than  ever. 

"I'll  fetch  the  perlice,"  Mike  whispered.  "I 
think  ye'd  better  run,  though ;  they're  wickeder 
than  ye'd  think." 


FARM    LABORERS  igc 

Alan  had  no  thonglit  of  runnin'^r  fimt  blear- 
eyed  pair,  with  unsteady  nerves,  wonld  be  no  match 
for  him;  so  he  held  his  gronnd,  resolved  in  any 
case  to  o-et  Mike  out  of  such  a  den. 

McOuinn  turned  fiercely  to  Alan  and  hissed : 
"  Git  out  of  this,  ye  tliafe,   comin'  betwixt  a 
parent  and  his  child.     Oi'll  be  the  death  of  ye,  if 
ye  don't." 

"  You  won't  hurt  me,"  Alan  said,  calmly.  "I 
came  here  to  help  your  son,  not  to  quarrel  with 
you.  Sit  down  and  talk  reasonably  about  the 
terms  you  demand." 

McOuinn  responded  with  an  attempt  to  strike 
the  alert  young  fellow,  who  was  watching  him 
keenly,  his  back  set  against  the  door,  but  the 
hand  was  seized,  and  he  was  held  at  arm's  length, 
apparently  with  the  same  ease  a  mother  would 
exercise  with  a  refractory  child. 

"  By  the  powers,  but  ye've  a  foine  grip  av  the 
fist,  so  ye  have,"  McQuinn  said,  admiringly,  while 
he  vainly  endeavored  to  extricate  himself  from 
Alan's  grasp.  He  found  a  trial  of  strength  was 
going  to  fail  him  and  he  was  going  to  change  his 
tactics.  If  Mike  would  only  keep  out  of  the  way 
there  was  no  knowing  what  good  luck  might  be- 
fall him  if  this  rich  young  fellow  was  provided 
with  a  watch  and  pocket-book. 

"  If  ye' 11  plase  to  let  go  me  hand,  and  set  down 
here  with  me,  friendly-like,  we'll  talk  it  over  pace- 


-L 


196  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

able."     He  spoke  in  a  wheedling  tone,  but  Alan 
liked  his  manner  less  than  when  he  was  in  a  rage. 

Mrs.  McQuinn  was  edging  up  with  the  intention 
of  releasing  her  spouse.  Alan  kept  his  eye  stead- 
ily on  her,  but  still  held  her  struggling  husband. 

"  Ye'd  not  be  after  striking  a  woman,  would  ye?" 
McQuinn  asked,  uneasily. 

''  Certainly  not ;  but  I  may  find  it  necessary  to 
hold  her  hands  to  prevent  her  striking  me,"  was 
the  quiet  reply. 

Mrs.  McQuinn  changed  her  mind,  and  settled 
back  into  a  corner ;  but  Alan  saw  her  reaching  slyly 
for  a  poker  near  by  as  he  renewed  the  argument 
with  McQuinn. 

"Will  you  consent  now  for  Mike  to  come 
with  me?" 

"  Would  ye  be  expectin'  a  fayther  to  part  with 
his  b'y  jist  when  he  was  a  help,  lettin'  a  stranger 
have  all  the  profit  of  his  upraisin'  ?" 

"Mike's  upraising  has  not  cost  you  much,  but 
still  he  is  your  son " 

Mrs.  McQuinn  had  again  assumed  a  warlike  at- 
titude and  was  already  coming  toward  him.  He 
saw  the  poker  hid  in  the  fold  of  her  dress,  and  was 
beginning  to  wonder  what  he  was  to  do  with  her — 
if  it  would  be  safe  to  strike  McQuinn  hard  enough 
to  disable  him,  and  yet  not  seriously  injure  him, 
while  he  dealt  with  her.  Nothing  short  of  force, 
he  now  saw,  would  extricate  him  from  the  difii- 


FARM   I^ABORERS 


197 


culty,  and  in  case  otlicrs  in  the  house  should  hear 
what  was  goin-  on  and  come  to  share  in  the  melee, 
it  might  end  more  seriously  than  he  cared  to 
think. 

"  Mrs.  McQuinn,  if  you  come  one  step  nearer  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  disable  your  husband  while  I 
deal  with  you." 

She  paused,  looking  uncertainly  at  the  man  who 
was  holding  her  husband  with  such  apparent  ease, 
but  it  was  only  for  an  instant  and  with  poker  up^ 
lifted  she  was  almost  ready  to  strike,  when  Alan, 
giving  McOuinn  a  push,  seized  the  poker  and 
threatening  them  with  it,  held  both  at  bay.     They 
began  to  scream.     Then  there  was  a  scufflino-  of 
feet  outside,  and  Alan  felt  the  door  behind  him 
violently  puslied.  He  stepped  aside,  scared  v  know- 
ing which  was  the  better  pan  of  valor,  to  stand 
his  ground  or  beat  a  hasty  retreat  poker  in  hand. 
Several  unkempt  creatures  came  rushing  in,  ready 
to  join  with  the  McQuinns  and  share  in  the  plun- 
der,  but  a  sudden  hush  fell  upon  them,  for  other 
steps  were  heard,  and  the  blue  coats  and  brass 
buttons  of  two  stalwart  policemen  stood  in  the 
door,  with  .Vake,  Jacob  Alolensky,  and  Billy  Spen- 
cer  in  the  rear. 

''What's  the  rumpus  here?"  one  of  the  police- 
men asked. 

"  There  ain't  no  rumpus.    Only  this  man  wants 
to  rob  us  av  our  darlin'  child." 


198  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

"  I  believe  it  was  *  your  darlin'  child'  that  sent 
lis  here  in  hot  haste  to  take  care  of  him." 

'^The  young  rascal,"  McQuinn  muttered,  end- 
ing with  a  dreadful  imprecation. 

"  I  advise  you  to  come  away  with  us,  they  are  a 
hard  crowd  here,"  the  policeman  said,  turning  to 
Alan. 

'^  I  am  anxious  first  to  make  some  arrauirement 
with  them  about  their  son  ;  he  is  worth  savin"-." 

''It's  not  after  his  parents  he  takes  then,"  the 
policeman  said,  with  a  glance  of  contempt  at  the 
miserable  pair,  who  stood  regarding  them  wratli- 
fully. 

]\Iike  suddenly  came  forward. 

"  You  may  as  well  make  as  good  a  bargain  as  you 
can  with  Mr.  Rivers,  daddy,  for  I'm  bound  to  leave 
here." 

"  Ye  ungrateful  villain!  "  The  father's  expres- 
sion was  something  fearful  as  he  glared  at  his  off- 
spring. 

"Ye'd  better  not  be  after  making  any  rash 
promises,  Mr.  Rivers.  I'll  slip  away  quiet  like, 
and  be  turnin'  up  at  the  farm  some  foine  mornin', 
when  we  can  plan  things  by  ourselves,"  whis- 
pered Mike  into  Alan's  ear. 

"  He  is  your  father,  Mike.  If  we  could  get  his 
consent  for  you  to  go,  we  might,  in  time,  res- 
cue him  too." 

"It's  a  gone  case,  sor,"  Mike  said,  hopelessly. 


FARM   LABORERS 


199 


Alan  went  a  few  steps  nearer  to  McQuinn  and 
said : 

"Yonr  son  is  determined  to  leave.  V/onld  it 
not  be  better  for  you  to  still  keep  a  hold  on  him 
by  giving  your  consent  ?  I  am  sure  he  will  share 
whatever  wages  he  may  earn  with  you,  if  you  part 
with  him  kindly." 

''  What'll  ye  give  me  for  him?"  McOuinn  again 
demanded,  seeking  something  more  definite  than 
mere  promises. 

"  I  have  told  you  what  we  will  do.  Mike  him- 
*   self  will  repeat  the  promise." 

"  Yes,  I'll  give  ye  everything  I  can,"  Mike  said, 
eagerly. 

"  If  we  get  you  a  cottage  with  a  bit  of  garden 
and  the  promise  of  plenty  of  work,  won't  you 
come  with  the  rest  of  your  family  next  summer?" 

"Oi'll  see  about  it.  Get  off  with  ye  now,"  he  said, 
sullenly,  bestowing  such  a  look  of  concentrated 
rage  on  his  son  that  the  latter  quickly  went  from 
the  room,  without  receiving  any  response  to  his 
hastily  spoken  farewell. 


'/' 


CHAPTER  XVI 

FROM  the;  de^pths 

l\/riKE,   with  a  very   exultant   expression  of 

^^J-   countenance,  accompanied  the  rather  large  t 

party  ot  civilians  and  police  down  the  creakino- 

stairs.     The  policemen  walked  in  the  rear  of  the 

procession  with  an  occasional  backward  glance  to 

see  that  no  missile  was  likely  to  be  launched  after 

them. 

Mike's  exuberance  of  spirits  was  really  in- 
fectious. The  other  boys  who  had  joined  them 
shared  in  his  pleasure ;  for  were  they  not  also  to 
emigrate,  soon  or  late,  to  the  land  of  plenty? 
When  they  had  emerged  on  the  street,  the  rest 
scattering  and  Mike  and  Alan  found  themselves 
alone  in  the  anxious-faced  throng  that  ceaselessly 
passes  to  and  fro  in  that  quarter,  he  said,  gleefully: 

"Isn't  it  jist  foine  I've  got  clear  with  whole 
bones  !  I  know  them  perlicemen,  and  if  me  fay- 
ther  makes  trouble  bime-by,  why  we've  only  got 
to  summons  them  as  witnesses." 

Alan  thought  there  was  small  prospect  of  their 
help  being  required.  Persons  who  have  fallen  as 
low  as  the  McQuinns,  are  as  a  rule  ver}-  content  to 
leave  the  law  alone  if  it  does  not  interfere  with 


200 


FROM  THK  DEPTHS  201 

them.     I\Iike  began  to  walk  less  briskly,  and  at 
last,  he  asktd  rather  plaintively  : 
^  "  Will  I  0-0  right  to  Deeplawn,  or  can  I  have  a 

bite  to  eat  first?  I've  seen  very  litile  vittels,  only 
what  I  fished  out  of  the  market  barrels,  since  I've 
come  to  town." 

I  "You   shall  have  your  dinner  at  once,"  and 

Alan  led  the  way  into  a  dining  room  they  were 
neari ng.     Mike  opened  wide  his  eyes  with  amaze- 
ment.    He  certainly  did  not  expect  anything  so 
good  as  this,  to  be  sitting  at  one  of  those  tables 
toward  which  he  had  scores  of  times  cast  longing 
eyes  while  selling  papers;  and  to  be  waited  on  by 
those   gentlemen  with    white    aprons,  who    had 
occasionally  put  into  the  hands  of  hungry  news- 
boys the  contents  of  discarded  dinner  plates,  this 
was   more   than   he  expected  for  some  years  to 
come.     The  very  strangeness  and  surprising  honor 
of  the  occasion  threatened  to  duL  his  appetite,  but 
when   he   tasted   the  excellent  chicken  soup  he 
realized  how  terribly  keen  his  hunger  was,  and 
felt  a  great  wave  of  sympathy  for  a  fellow-news- 
boy with  whom  he  was  on  friendly  terms,  who 
was  watching  him  from  outside. 

"  Does  a  dinner  like  this  cost  much  ?  "  he  asked 
in  a  whisper,  of  Alan,  who  was  busy  over  his  own 
soup. 

"Not  very  much,"  was  the  amused  answer. 
"  When  I  get  rich  I'm  comin'  here  every  day, 


202  THE   MASTER  OE  DEEPLAWN 

and  ril  g-ive  poor  fellers  like  liim  over  there,  all 
tlie  soup  they  can  swaller.     I  ^uess  Blinders  could 
'  eat  half  a  gallon  ;  he  looks  awful  holler." 

Alan  looked  at  the  individual  indicated  by 
IVIike's  fin<i^er. 

"Why  is  he  called  Blinders?" 

"  Don't  you  see  how  his  ears  sets  out  from  his 
head  like  the  blinders  av  a  horse?  I  guv  hiui  that 
name  my  own  self,  so  I  did."  Mike  spoke 
proudly,  as  if  it  were  something  very  clever. 

"  You  would  like  him  to  have  some  dinner  to- 
day, I  presume." 

"Av  course;  he'd  like  it  hisself,  but  he'd  not 
ask  to  be  sot  down  like  this,  and  mayl)e  in  tlieui 
clothes  the  waiters  would  object  too;  but  he 
could  have  a  sup  of  soup  out  beyant  there  where 
you  hear  them  dishes  a  rattlin'." 

"  How  much  money  do  you  want?  "  Alan  asked, 
looking  down  kindly  into  the  eager,  upturned 
face. 

"  A  quarter  '11  buy  all  the  bread  and  soup  he 
can  cat.  I  know  a  waiter  who  has  a  ter'ble  soft 
heart — us  fellers  all  knows  him.  I  guess  he's  goiu' 
^o  be  a  preacher  some  day ;  Dandy  said  so,  and  he 
knows  lots  about  that  sort  of  folks." 

Alan  laid  down  the  quarter  and  Mike,  by  some 
mysterious  gesture,  acquainted  Blinders  with  the 
fact  that  he  too  was  to  be  treated,  for  he  immedi- 
ately stood  at  the  door  looking  in  with  eager  face. 


FROM   THE   DEPTHvS 


203 


Mike  went  at  once  to  interview  his  favorite 
waiter,  and  a  moment  later,  Blinders  disappeared 
behind  a  screen,  and  Mike  retnrned  to  his  inter- 
1  npted  dinner  with  evident  self-approA^al. 

"  He  says  he'll  pay  yer  the  first  thing  when  he 
<>;its  on  his  feet." 

Alan  did  not  interrnpt  Mike  to  inquire  what 
that  obscure  phrase  meant.  The  dinner  ended, 
Mike  was  entrusted  with  the  money  to  buy  his 
ticket,  and  Alan  proceeded  on  his  way  alone.  He 
was  passing  through  one  of  those  mental  crises 
every  worker  among  the  lapsed  classes  is  sadly 
familiar  with.  Try  as  he  might,  what  could  he 
accomplish  by  way  of  reducing  this  gigantic  mass 
of  human  misery  ?  The  broad  avenues  and  stately 
buildings  near  could  give  no  solution  to  the 
question. 

He  sank  into  a  seat  in  one  of  the  squares,  and 
surrounded  by  its  beauty  there  came  before  him 
a  vision  of  the  thousands  of  human  blossoms  in  the 
courts  and  alleys  of  the  city.  Unwashed,  hungry 
babies  for  whom  no  one  careil,  boys  and  girls 
f icing  toward  ruin  and  for  the  most  part  only  a 
few  weak  women's  hands  stretched  out  to  stay 
their  progress  thither— women  who  forsook  their 
pleasant  homes  and  congenial  pursuits  and  for 
Christ's  sake  went  down  to  heal  these  festering 
wounds,  as  far  as  their  feeble  hands  could  do  it. 
Was  it  true  that  corporations  have  souls  only  for 


u 


■  viq-R-r")  «i»u  ■  '■  Bi^fi"*"   ■«      I  '   i"i  .  '"ii'  »    "jr  w'^*^' 


204  THE   MASTKR  OF   DEEPLAWN 

inanimate  things,  caring  notliing  for  linmanity? 
These  flowers  about  him  were  certainly  very  beau- 
tiful, and  rested  tired  eyes  no  doubt;  but  an 
untimely  frost  would  soon  reduce  them  to  un- 
sightly stalks,  and  their  beauty  would  then  be 
only  a  fading  memory. 

He  got  up,  walked  to  the  street,  and  hailed  a 
car.  One  tliii  g  at  a  time  must  be  done.  The 
thing  awaitin;;  liim  just  then  was  the  honorable 
completion  ol  his  college  course.  Some  day  he 
might  be  able  to  infuse  a  more  brotherly  spirit 
into  municipal  -n-ganizations,  which  now  did  not 
seem  to  reckon  the  future  men  and  women  of  the 
commonwealth  at  as  high  a  value  as  tulip  or 
hyacinth  bulbs. 

A  few  weeks  later  there  came  an  enthusiastic 
letter  from  Mike,  one  of  the  most  gratifying  mes- 
sages the  daily  mail  brought  to  Alan  for  many  a 
day.  Mike  had  reconnoitered  among  the  farmers 
himself,  the  business  capacity  developed  in  the 
streets  standing  him  in  good  stead  in  his  ne- 
gotiations. He  had  no  idea  of  being  a  mere 
hanger-on  upon  Alan's  bounty.  To  be  trans- 
ported to  Deeplawn  and  lodged  and  fed  so  royally 
while  he  was  settling  himself  was  all  he  asked, 
and  for  this  he  expressed  a  boundless  gratitude  in 
the  blotted,  misspelled  epistle  he  sent  to  his  bene- 
factor. 

He  described  his  home  with  great  minuteness. 


FROM   THE   DEPTHS 


205 


It  was  a  large,  old-fasliioiied  farmhouse  wliose 
furnishings  were  little  altered  from  the  iashions  of 
half  a  century  before,  some  of  the  articles  still  iu 
use  dating  back  to  old  colonial  times. 

The  brass  andirons  in  the  prim  parlor,  with  the 
stiff  chairs  and  spindle-legged  tables  that  had 
been  mute  witnesses  of  tlie  triumphs  of  the  Rev- 
olution, awakened  in  Mike  an  amazed  admiration. 
Iu  his  paternal  home  the  few  household  articles 
that  served  their  daily  needs  had  been  changed 
since  his  recollection  more  times  than  he  could 
count.  How  often  had  he  watched  their  last  stick 
of  furniture  on  its  way  to  the  pawnshop,  with 
nothing  left  behind  but  four  mildewed  walls  and 
the  children  !  He  used  to  think  it  a  pity  that 
children  were  of  so  little  value  that  thirsty  parents 
•could  not  exchange  them  for  a  glass  of  whisky. 

Alan  smiled  as  he  read  Mike's  incoherent  de- 
scription of  the  farmhouse  and  its  inmates.  The 
family  were  all  grown  and  most  of  them  settled 
in  homes  of  their  own,  but  for  those  still  re- 
maining the  lad  had  formed  a  very  high  regard. 
They  always  had  such  abundance  of  good  Vood, 
and  were  on  such  friendly  terms  with  each  other 
and  all  the  world,  he  was  kept  in  a  state  of  per- 
petual wonderment. 

"I'd  never  thought  folks  could  get  on  so  quiet 
like,"  he  wrote,  ecstatically.  "I've  never  heard 
an   oath   or  ugly  word   from  one  of  'em;  most 


I 


206  THK   MASTKR  OF   D?:EPLAWN 

like  it\s  the  prayers,  for  they  do  be  havin'  them 
twice  a  day  011  tlieir  knees,  and  every  time  they 
sets  down  to  eat,  and  they  makes  fresh  pray- 
ers every  niornin'  and  night.  They've  tuck  me 
to  church,  too,  and  it  was  as  aisy  as  anythin'  to 
do  like  them.  The  preacher  one  Sunday  made 
some  av  'em  cry.  It  was  a  revival  they  wor 
havin',  and  he  told  them  a  lot  about  their  sins 
and  how  good  the  Lord  were  to  'em.  Blest  if  I 
didn't  cry  meself,  for  I  never  heard  tell  about  it 
rightly  afore,  and  when  the  preacher  asked  any- 
body who  wanted  to  forsake  the  devil  and  take 
the  Ivord  for  their  Master  to  stand  up,  why  I  jist 
jumped  right  up,  of  course,  and  said,  'Please,  sir, 
it's  him  I'm  wantin'  to  belong  to.'  If  my  folks 
warn't  proud  then  youniver  did  see,  and  I  declare 
if  they  don't  be  callin'  of  me  brother  Michael  in 
the  meetin's  now.  They  do  be  powerful  glad 
here  to  get  hold  of  the  likes  of  me,  and  they've 
got  me  fast  enough,  I  tell  you." 

When  the  letter  was  finished  Alan  folded  it 
away  with  a  feeling  that  the  time  of  reaping  had 
begun.  It  was  the  first  real  encouragement  he 
had  met  in  his  rescue  attempts,  and  although 
feeling  that  his  life-work  had  not  really  begun, 
he  was  eager  to  be  doing  what  he  could  each  re- 
turning day.  A  little  later  he  received  a  letter 
from  the  Dingwells.  They  were  now  settled  in 
one  of  the  small   cottages  at  Deeplawn.     Mrs. 


, 


FROM   tup:   DKPTIIS 


207 


Dixon  had  taken  them  under  her  care,  and  the 
consequence  was  that  nuUters  for  them  were  pro- 
o-ressino-  most  satisfactorily.  The  chiklren  were 
workincr  when  occasion  ofTered,an(l  for  the  rest  of 
the  time  were  at  school.  Dandy  was  able  to  do 
li<,dit  work  for  the  farmers,  while  J\Irs.  Din^well 
and  the  little  girls  were  very  useful  with  the 
needle  amon^^  the  overworked  farmers'  wives. 
The  other  lads  had  gravitated  to  the  city  again, 
but  were  all  promising  to  become  farmers  later  on. 

Alan  had  not  yet  discovered  what  his  own 
work  in  life  was  to  be ;  in  fact,  it  was  becoming 
an  increasing  perplexity.  To  overlook  the  work- 
men at  Deeplawn  scarcely  seemed  a  sufficient 
career.  He  could  not  be  blind  to  the  fact  that  his 
endowments  of  intellect  were  more  than  the  aver- 
age. With  an  ease  that  was  admired  by  fellow- 
students  and  professors  alike,  he  took  some  of  the 
first  honors  of  his  class.  It  appeared  to  him  some- 
thing of  a  waste  to  take  the  intellectual  equip- 
ment gained  by  the  labor  of  a  dozen  years  and 
more  to  superintend  the  cultivation  of  grain  and 
vegetables  ;  but  what  was  he  to  do  ? 

Already  the  towns  and  cities  were  overflowing 
with  professional  men  struggling  for  a  bare  exist- 
ence. If  he  joined  their  ranks  he  would  only 
be  snatching  from  some  one  more  needy  either 
the  brief  or  the  patient  that  otherwise  would  fall 
to  his  share.     He  had  no  drawing  to  the  mechani- 


2o8  TIIK   MASTER  OK   DEEPLAWN 

cal  sciences ;  for  book-inakiiinr  he  feared  lie  had 
even  less  aptitnde,  and  of  ])ooks  there  certainly 
did  not  seem  to  be  a  dearth ;  neither  did  his 
eonntry  seem  to  be  snfferino-  from  a  lack  of  poli- 
ticians;  while  the  dream  of  his  boyhood  that 
one  day  it  niiirht  be  his  work  to  fonnd  and  oc- 
cnpy  a  chair  in  biblical  literatnre  in  the  arts 
conrse  of  a  nniversity  had  grown  dim  amid  the 
activities  of  a  very  bnsy  Hfe.  No  wonder  then 
that  he  felt  keenly  the  perplexity  that  confronts 
so  many  honest  and  ambitions  yonn.q;  men. 
While  he  coveted  the  .splendid  opportnnities  of 
the  eloqnent  preacher  to  help  hnmanity  in  the 
multitndinons  ways  open  to  those  who  arj?  thor- 
oughly consecrated  and  fearless,  he  had'  ne^-er  per- 
mitted himself  to  dream  of  such  possibili'ties  for 
service  coming  to  him. 

Just  before  commencement  a  letter  came  from 
Mr.  Dolliver.  He  had  come  home  to  die,  so  he 
seemed  to  believe.  All  the  lonely  journey  ings  up 
and  down  the  land  were  ended.  There  remained 
now  only  the  quiet  passage  between  the  two 
worlds — whether  long  or  short,  he  little  cared, 
since  the  King  of  the  country  whither  he  was 
going  had  promised  to  make  the  journey  with 
him,  and  it  must  therefore  be  both  glad  and 
honorable.  What  most  interested  the  aged  pil- 
grim now,  was  the  work  that  he  longed  to  see  his 
young  friend  undertake. 


FROM   TIIK   DICrTlIS 


209 


"I  was   not   eloquent  or  IcaniLcl,"   the   letter 
said,  'Mjut  with  (kxr.s  help  I  have  tried  to  make 
his  world   better.     Yon  havC  the    <;ifts   and    the 
traininjr  wliieh  (iod  did  not  see  fit  to  oive  to  nie ; 
and  I  am  prayin-  now,  every  da\-,  nearly  all  the' 
day,— for  the  nearer  I  ^et  to  seein^.^  my  I^ord  the 
more  natnral  is  the  act  of  prayer,— I  am  pra}in.L,r 
that  yon  may  be  anointed  for  his  work,  the  work 
of  the  Christian  ministry.     The  good  Lord  knows 
I  wanted  to  work  faithfnlly  for  him.     I  did  not 
give  np  work  nntil  my  strength  was  so  far  spent 
1  conld  only  get  here  by  being  bronght  npon  a 
bed  ;  bnt  what  I  have  done  was  so  little,  i  donbt 
if  I  get  ninch  reward,  only  the  smile  of  recogn'- 
tion   my  I.ord  will   give   to  every  homc-comhig 
child.      Yon  can  do  a  far  different  work.     Yon 
have  gifts  of  speech,  winning  words,  and   a  fas- 
cination that  is  the  gift  of  very  few,  and  added  to 
all  these  natnral  gifts,  yon  have  the  learning  that 
so  well  sharpens  the  tools  God  has  given,     f  have 
received  the  assnrance  that  yon  are  going  to  be 
called   to   this   work.     I  know  this   becansc  my 
Lord  sometimes  trnsts  me  with  his  secrets,  and  so 
every  honr,  as  it  passes,  bears  some  prayer  for  )-ou 
in  yonr  fntnre   work.     I  am  glad  to  linger  here 
away  from  any  company,  that  I  may  pray  for  yon 
—prayers   that  yon   mnst   work   throngh    many 
years  to  see  answ^cred.     I  have  thonght  that  yon 
may  not  have  many  wdio  wonld  talk  over   yonr 

o 


2IO  THK   .MAvSTKR  OK  DEKPI^AWN 

case  with   God,  and  that  makes  me   the   more 
busy." 

Alan  dropped  the  letter  unfinished,  for  through 
it  there  had  already  come  the  divine  call.  IVIr. 
DoUiver  had  written  in  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  or 
so  it  seemed  to  Alan,  and  through  him  had  come 
the  message  direct  from  on  high.  He  felt  none  of 
the  unwillingness  to  respond  that  many  r^peak  of 
when  called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  rather  a 
sense  that  the  honor  was  more  than  he  could 
bear,  a  feeling  also  of  exceeding  gladness  that  to 
him  had  been  given  the  mission  that  came  to 
prophet  and  apostle. 

Then  also  came  the  thought  how  wide  might 
be  the  range  of  his  usefulness.  If,  as  his  student 
friends  asserted,  he  really  had  special  gifts  of  ora- 
tory, how  much  he  might  help  others  in  that  way  ; 
reaching  wide  masses  of  men  who  otherwise  would 
not  heed  his  words.  After  this  he  studied  with 
new  zeal,  believing  that  no  equipment  of  culture 
could  be  vast  enough  to  do  this  work  at  IlS  best. 

After  a  summer  devoted  to  Mr.  DoUivcr,  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  study,  and  another  college  year, 
he  completed  his  course,  a  much  wider  one  than 
was  usually  taken  at  Brown,  and  then,  seek- 
ing for  the  most  varied  opportunities  for  extend- 
ing his  mental  horizon,  he  resolved  to  take  two 
years  at  Oxford  and  finivSh  at  one  of  the  great 
German  universities.     As  far  as  he  could  master 


FROM   THE  DEPTHS 


211 


those  vexed  problems  that  lead  immature  minds 
into  unbelief,  he  resolved  to  do  so,  firmly  believ- 
ing that  no  workman  requires  such  preparation  as 
the  one  who  deals  with  questions  pertaining  to  the 
soul  of  man  and  eternity. 


9.    MPI  I  I  [J.    PJI 


I 


t 


CHAPTER  XVII 


CUMBING 

ALAN  did  not  neglect  the  lads  in  whose  behalf 
he  had  already  taken  such  deep  interest. 
The  summer  he  graduated,  he  took  them  with  him 
to  the  farm  again,  with  the  exception  of  Mike, 
who  was  getting  along  finely  with  his  new  friends, 
working  through  the  day  at  the  healthful  tasks  of 
the  farm  laborer,  and  busy  with  his  books  during 
the  evening.     Mike  had  his  ambitions. 

"  rd  like  to  be  doing  some  other  work  than  will 
end  with  the  day,"  he  said  to  Alan,  when  he  came 
to  make  a  short  visit  at  Deeplawn. 

' '  No  work  that  you  do  on  tlie  farm  can  well 
end  with  the  day,"  Alan  said.  "  If  you  are  sow- 
ing seed,  that  certainly  does  not  end  with  the  day, 
and  just  so  through  the  long  round  of  a  farmer's 
duties." 

"  I  know  that,  but  my  share  of  it  ends  there, 
and  I  want  to  learn  all  I  can  about  the  world  I 
live  in.  I  want  to  be  something  better  than  a 
farm  servant.  Our  family  has  been  at  the  foot  of 
the  ladder  and  now  I  want  to  begin  climbing,  and 
help  them  up  too,  if  I  can." 

"There   must    be   farm   servants,"   Alan   sue- 

212 


i 


I 


CUMBING 


213 


gested,   more   to  draw   Mike   out  than   for  any 
other  reason. 

"  Of  course  there  must,  but  that  is  no  reason 
why  I  should  be.  They  are  generally  contented 
to  be  that,  and  I  am  not." 

"Ah,  I  like  that.  Discontent  is  one  of  the 
great  factors  in  our  world's  progress.  There  is  a 
kind  of  discontent  that  has  something  of  the  di- 
vine in  it.  What  I  object  to  is  the  disappoint- 
ment that  conies  through  ignoble  ambitions." 

"  I  mean  to  get  fitter,  as  far  as  I  am  able,  for 
some  good  place  in  the  world,  and  I  mean  to  look 
for  it  too." 

Alan  was  surprised  at  the  improvement  in  speech 
that  the  two  >-ears  had  brought  to  ]\Iike.  He  had 
improved  in  other  ways  as  well,  and  there  were 
few  traces  of  the  slum  life  from  which  he  had 
been  rescued  now  clinging  to  him. 

Anselmo  was  growing  now  into  quite  a  healthy 
tough-fibered  young  fellow.  His  patron,  voung 
Blake,  had  never  quite  lost  his  interest  in  the  fiery 
little  Italian.  The  weeks  they  had  spent  together 
m  Newfoundland,  followed  by  a  further  term  on 
the  Gloucester  coast,  had  revealed  to  each  that 
considerable  imperfection  was  a  characteristic  they 
shared  in  common,  but  this  knowledge  unfor- 
tunately had  failed  to  make  them  overlook  the 
other's  shortcomings.  Alan's  example  had  held 
Blake,  to  some  degree,  faithful  to  his  charge,  while 


214  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

the  brightening  face  and  well-rounded  contours  of 
the  once  angular  boy,  were  fair  recompense  for 
the  trouble  incurred. 

Anselnio,  however,  held  him  in  very  humble 
estimation  compared  with  Alan,  and  when  the 
chance  was  now  given  to  choose  between  Deep- 
lawn  and  Cape  Ann's  rugged  profile,  the  eagerness 
with  which  he  decided  for  the  former  place  left 
his  patron  both  mystified  and  chagrined.  He  had 
patronized  him  now  for  two  years,  giving  him  cloth- 
ing and  many  a  stray  quarter,  and  now  he  was  dis- 
appointed to  find  how  little  hold  he  had  on  the 
boy's  heart. 

"  He  is  an  ungrateful  little  monkey.  I  have  a 
mind  to  wash  my  hands  of  him  entirely,"  he  said, 
as  he  looked  at  the  unconcerned  youth. 

"  You  must  try  love  on  him  as  well  as  pennies. 
It  goes  deeper  into  the  heart  of  the  raggedest 
iirchin  you  will  find,"  Alan  said,  as  he  bestowed  a 
smile  on  the  swarthy  Italian,  who  loved  him  bet- 
ter than  any  one  in  the  world,  and  whose  dearest 
ambition  was  gratified  by  the  prospect  of  a  month 
at  Deeplawn. 

What  a  summer  those  boys  had  together  !    The  | 

month  origiually  promised  them  was  lengthened 
by  weeks,  and  for  a  few  days  all  the  young  men 
of  the  Newfoundland  excursion  who  were  near 
enough  to  come,  joined  them  by  special  invitation. 
Alan  was  anxious  that  the  interest  between  the 


CLIMBING 


215 


lads  and  their  former  patrons  should  be  maintained, 
and  it  amused  as  well  as  pleased  him  to  see  how 
the  old  feeling  of  ownership  revived.  If  these 
young  men  could  be  influenced  to  take  a  lasting 
interest  in  their  respective  boys,  see  that  a  useful 
trade  was  given  them,  as  they  could  all  easily  af- 
ford, and  help  them  to  get  a  start  in  life,  what  a 
nnitual  blessing  it  might  be. 

Anselmo's  father  found  his  way  to  Deeplawn 
with  a  hand-organ  and  monkey.  To  appease  his 
housekeeper,  Alan  had  taken  for  the  boys'  quarters 
a  huge  granary  that  stood  empty  all  summer  until 
the  fall  threshings,  fitting  it  up  with  hammocks 
ard  cots,  and  here  the  boys  spent  some  of  their 
gayest  hours.  There  was  always  a  spare  cot  for  a 
friend,  and  no  visitor  was  more  welcome  than 
Ivagoni  with  his  monkey  and  organ.  He  stayed  a 
few  days  and  then  penetrated  farther  into  the 
country  in  search  of  pennies,  but  soon  returned 
resolved  to  make  a  lengthened  sojourn.  The  hos- 
pitality was  so  bountiful  he  felt  safe  to  venture 
upon  it  for  a  week.  So  many  full  meals  in  suc- 
cession would  be  a  rich  experience  for  himself  and 
monkey.  Anselmo  catered  for  liini  in  the  kitchen, 
and  brought  the  food  to  the  granary,  watching  the 
supplies  disappear  with  great  ojmplacei  cy.  His 
one  regret  was  that  the  entire  I^agoni  connection 
was  not  there  to  share  the  abundance. 

Alan  took  little  notice  of  the  self-invited  guests. 


2l6  TIIK   MASTKR  OF  DEKPI.AWN 

If  too  many  friends  from  the  city  slums  came,  he 
might  be  compelled  to  interfere,  but  a  solitary 
Italian  with  a  hungry-faced  monkey,  scarcely  set  a 
precedent  for  many  to  follow.  Other  visitors,  as 
a  rule,  limited  their  stay  to  a  day  or  two.  Alan 
sometimes  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  burning  eyes 
in  the  pinched  face  following  him  with  a  dumb 
wistfulness,  and  was  glad  to  make  the  poor  crea- 
ture's hfe  happier  for  a  few  days. 

One  day  he  produced  a  complete  outfit  to  re- 
place the  picturesque  tatters.  The  garments  were 
second-hand,  but  so  skillfully  remodeled  by  Mrs. 
Dingwell,  they  looked  like  new.  When  I^agoni 
was  given  to  understand  that  they  were  for  him, 
his  eyes  grew  luminous  with  emotion  and  as  iVlan 
walked  away,  the  hand-organ  fairly  gasped  as  the 
excited  musician  ground  out  opera  airs  and  love 
songs  one  after  another.  Anselmo,  although  ready 
to  quarrel  with  his  father  on  the  slightest  provo- 
cation, loved  him  after  a  fashion,  and  his  gratitude 
when  he  saw  his  parent  proudly  walking  up  and 
down  the  granary  in  his  new  clothes,  was  only 
second  to  that  of  the  happy  wearer  himself. 

The  other  boys  shared  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Italians.  The  hand-organ  and  monkey  had  made 
them  a  very  united  family,  so  much  so,  in  fact, 
that  tliey  forgot  to  be  jealous  of  the  lion's  share 
of  good  things  falling  to  their  Lagoni  acquaint- 
ances. 


* 


CLIMBING 


217 


i 


It  was  quite  a  o^looiny  day  when  the  haiid-ori;aii 
and  monkey  departed.  Lagoni  was  anxious  to 
appear  among  his  friends  while  still  his  gannents 
were  fresh.  He  could  well  anticipate  the  admira- 
tion of  acquaintances  for  his  good  clothes,  when 
they  were  all  assembled  at  the  Italian  chapel  on 
Sunday  morning.  Anselnio  accompanied  him  some 
miles  on  the  journey  and  so  successful  were  they 
in  drawing  the  pennies,  that  I^agoni  felt  rich 
enough  to  take  the  train  for  Proxidence,  while 
Anselnio  make  the  journey  back  on  foot  feeling 
quite  light-hearted,  for  his  father  had  given  a  halt- 
ing promise  to  come  out  with  the  family  and  take 
up  life  as  a  farm  servant. 

Anselnio  had  taken  him  to  visit  the  Dingwells, 
and  the  very  homelike  and  thrifty  aj^pearance 
they  presented  was  more  eloquent  than  any  words 
that  Alan  could  use  in  bringing  him  to  this  de- 
cision. jMike's  appearance  too,  was  helping  to 
strengthen  the  boys'  discontent  geiieially  at  their 
own  rate  of  progress  in  the  city.  He  had  more 
money  in  the  bank  than  they  owned  altogether, 
while  his  scholarship  was  far  in  advance  of  the 
best  of  them. 

"  We  were  fools  and  nothing  else  that  we  didn't 
all  come  when  he  did."  Billy  Spencer  voiced  the 
sentiments  of  the  whole  crowd  as  he  said  this,  one 
rainy  day,  when  they  were  sitting  in  their  airy 
bedroom  discussing  matters  in  general. 


2l8  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

"  It'  a  great  pity  we  can't  go  back  a  spell  in  our 
lives  and  do  better  than  we've  done,"  Jacob  ]\Io- 
lensky  said,  with  considerable  regret  at  the  great 
mistake  he,  for  one,  had  made  two  years  before. 

"  We're  only  young  fellers  yet,  and  it's  not  too 
late  to  begin  now,"  Anselmo  said,  hopefully.  "  See 
what  old  folks  come  to  this  country  to  begin  their 
lives  new." 

"  Yes,  and  what  a  mess  a  good  many  make  of 
it.  They  think  they  must  live  in  the  cities,  and 
they  just  burrow  and  starve.  I'd  sooner  starve  in 
a  warm  country  than  a  cold  one  like  this,"  a 
pinched-faced  boy,  called  William  Mooney,  said. 
He  had  a  consumptive  look,  and  appeared  as 
though  he  was  not  likely  to  need  a  home  anywhere 
in  this  world  much  longer. 

The  result  of  that  day's  conference  was  that 
they  one  and  all  decided  to  come  to  the  country 
with  or  without  their  friends. 


f 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


life:  at  oxford 


AIvAN'S  course  at  Brown  completed,  he  went 
that  autumn  to  Oxford.  The  boys  were 
sent  to  their  appointed  places,  and  early  in  Sep- 
tember he  sailed  for  England.  jVIr.  Dolliver  was 
still  linoeiing  on  the  shores  of  time,  but  neither 
he  nor  Alan  expected  to  ever  again  see  each  other 
in  this  world.  Their  parting,  however,  was  not 
sad.  To  each  of  them  had  come  the  consciousness 
that  the  two  worlds,  the  natural  and  the  spiritual, 
are  not  so  far  apart ;  perhaps  defective  vision  is  the 
only  separation. 

Alan  took  with  him  letters  of  recommendation 
from  professors  and  friends  in  America  to  several 
of  the  Oxford  dons,  and  these  he  presented  on  his 
arrival.  He  was  not  acquainted  with  their  con- 
tents;  if  he  had  been,  in  some  cases  his  natural 
modesty  might  have  prevented  his  delivering 
them.  He  gravitated  at  once  to  the  company  of 
evangelical  students  who  lived,  in  one  sense,  as 
distinct  from  the  great  mass  of  young  men  as  did 
the  "  holy  club  "  in  the  days  of  Whitfield  and  the 
Wesleys.  Yet  they  were  not  separatists  in  any 
derogatory    sense.      Representatives    from   them 

219 


- 


I 


220  TIIR   MASTKR  OK  DEKPI.AWN 

were  the  foremost  athletes;  others  held  their  own 
aiiioii!^  the  list  of  distini^uished  scholars  ;  but  still 
they  were  as  unlike  the  gay,  worldly  students  as 
if  they  were  of  another  order  of  creation. 

vSonie  of  these  young  men  by  right  of  birth 
would  be  expected  one  day  to  do  their  share  in 
directing  their  country's  destiny  ;  rulers  by  inher- 
itance they  were  first  mastering  the  more  difficult 
task    of    self-government.       There    were    others 

» 

whose  rent-rolls  annually  counted  far  up  into  the 
thousands,  who  had  already  laid  all  upon  Crod's 
altar  and  were  now  taking  special  training  for 
missionary  work  in  heathen  lands.  As  he  mingled 
with  these  young  men,  Alan  realized  anew  the 
honor  God  had  conferred  on  him  by  choosing  him 
as  fellow-workman  with  them,  in  the  harvest  field 
of  the  world. 

IMelancholy  reflections  often  came,  as  he  com- 
pared them  with  that  brother  over  the  seas.  Rex, 
who  might  have  been  occupying  an  honorable 
place  in  the  world.  The  thought  of  this  haunted 
him  constantly,  making  him  exceedingly  reticent 
with  fellow-students.  He  never  spoke  of  home 
I  or  kindred,  and  studiously  avoided  close  intimacy 

with  any  of  them,  always  refusing  invitations  to 
visit  at  their  homes.  He  was  dubbed  Melchizedek 
by  some  of  the  wags,  since  he  seemed  to  be  one 
alone  in  the  world. 

They  very  well  knew  that  lie  did  not  come  from 


[ 


LIFR   AT  OXFORD  221 

the  newly  rich.  Trained  from  babyhood  them- 
selves,  they  recocrnized  in  him  those  subtle  tokens 
of  the  gentle-born  that  money  can  never  buy  any 
more  than  it  can  brains,  or  the  genius  that  pro- 
duces a  Hamlet  or  an  Angelus.  But,  notwith- 
standing his  reticence  on  the  matter  of  family 
history  and  connections,  he  was  admitted  by 
de-rees  into  the  charmed  circles  open  only  to 
those  of  no])le  heritage  of  birth  or  brains. 

Alan  was  deeply  interested  in  these  new  ex- 
periences in  the  highly  cultured  society  to  which 
he  was  admitted.  He  clearly  saw  its  defects,  for 
the  pride  of  birth  and  position  as  well  as  of 
intellect  was  very  strong.  There  was  also  too 
much  of  the  dilettante  about  the  religious  life. 

Among  the  renowned  college  dons  there  was 
little  that  savored  of  the  cloister,  or  of  self-denial 
for  conscience'  sake,  but  they  had  their  moral  ex- 
cellencies, and  for  the  youth  who  was  closely 
studying  them,  they  served  as  a  contrast,  sharp 
and  clearly  cut,  for  the  other  extremes  of  humanity 
among  whom  he  went  when  leisure  and  opportu- 
nity offered.  After  a  week  of  hard  work,  broken 
by  an  occasional  refection  in  fashionable  drawing 
rooms,  he  would  slip  into  London  on  the  Friday"^ 
and,  taking  lodgings  in  some  malodorous  East 
End  quarter,  would  go  down  to  the  depths  of 
human  degradation.  It  was  his  way  of  keeping 
his  heart  healthy  and  crowding  out  the  world"- 


T>; 


222  TIIK    MASTI'R  OK   DKHPLAWN 

liiiess  and  pride  of  life  for  which  he  had  a  horror, 
born  of  stroni^  temptation  thereto. 

None  of  his  stndent  friends  knew  how  he  spent 
those  holidays,  or  what  fascination  drew  him  from 
them  so  mysterionsly,  and  forbade  him  all  enjoy- 
ment of  the  home  life  of  tlie  higher  ranks  to 
which  classmates  had  often  invited  him.  Bnt 
one  day  one  of  his  student  friends,  a  prospective 
baronet,  came  across  him  in  those  dreary  moral 
and  social  wastes.  By  chance,  or  it  may  have 
been  by  divine  prevision  their  paths  intersected 
there,  for  each  was  working  out  his  own  ideals  of 
duty  according  to  his  light. 

Alan  flushed  uneasily  when  his  friend  came 
into  the  mission  hall,  for  they  had  been  for  some 
time  friends,  approaching  intimacy.  He  had  been 
talking  to  a  niotly  crowd,  who  hung  on  his  words 
with  an  eagerness  that  would  have  been  flattering 
to  a  more  self-conscious  speaker,  but  he  went 
bravely  on  with  his  addrc  s,  while  he  felt  the  thrill 
of  inspiration  that  comes  from  a  listener  mentally 
a  peer.     At  the  close,  Seymour  waited  for  him. 

"Is  this  what  you  are  about?"  he  asked,  with 
a  grip  of  his  muscular  hand  that  told  Alan  at 
once  he  was  in  hearty  sympathy  with  his  work. 

"  It  would  seem  that  we  are  in  the  same  boat," 
Alan  said,  drily. 

"  Well,  yes,  I  am  trying  to  do  a  little,  but  I  did 
not  know  you  went  so  far  afield." 


IJKI-:   AT  OXFORD 


223 


''Is  it  hopeless  work,  do  you  think?"  Alan 
asked,  somewhat  wearily.  He  had  been  goin-r 
abont  all  day  between  garrets  and  mission  halls', 
visitino;  the  sick  and  dyin.ir,  and  speaking  to  men 
and  women  in  even  worse  condition  clian  some  of 
the  sick  he  had  visited,  and  the  misery  he  had 
met  was  pressing  heavily  on  his  heart. 

"  We  have  our  marchino-  orders  to  go  out  and 
work,  our  Captain  will  care  for  results.  I  do  not 
let  myself  worry  over  the  great  uiass  of  sin.  What 
is  the  use?  But  I  try  to  do  something  by  way 
of  lessening  it,  and  there  my  responsibility 
ends." 

Alau  looked  at  the  high-bred,  handsouic  youth 
and  felt  a  strong  admiration  mixed  with  a  warmer 
sentiment,  for  this  uoble  young  fellow  who  could 
so  far  forget  himself  as  to  leave  au  elegant  home 
lu  IVIayfair,  aud  congenial  sociel\,  for  work  like 
this.  The  world  would  surely  be  restored  some 
day  to  something  approaching  its  original  purity, 
since  there  were  so  many  giving  themselves  to  the 
work  of  accomplishing  it.  Alan's  face  grew  more 
cheerful  as  he  said  : 

"  It  does  uie  good  to  meet  you  here.  I  have 
been  feeling  particularly  discouraged  for  I  have 
seen  so  much  misery  to-day.  It  has  seeuied  to  me 
that  the  I^ord  Jesus  could  never  come  into  his 
own  rights  in  the  world  he  created  and  has  died 
to  redeem.     What  glimpses  one  gets  here  of  the 


Till-:  .a[astp:r  of  dkkplawn 


.,ul 


divine  patience  and  lonf^sufTcrino; !  I  have  never 
fonnd  sncli  elswhere. " 

"I  kui^/vv  it  is  horrible,  the  misery  we  see,  but 
wliat  if  we  were  born  in  it,  had  it  for  onr  only  in- 
heritance, as  these  poor  wretches  have?"  He 
swept  a  <>lance  around  the  crowded  hall,  for  a  fresh 
c()n<:^regation  had  been  gathering,  and  a  new  meet- 
ing was  just  about  to  begin. 

"  When  I  think  of  that  it  seems  as  if  I  could 
not  do  enough  to  prove  my  gratitude  for  what  has 
been  given  to  me ;  but  why  do  you  come  down 
among  our  festering  masses?  We  are  not  your 
countrymen?" 

"  Partly  because  every  man  is  the  same  to  me, 
no  matter  what  his  country ;  and  besides,  we  are 
apt  to  grow  selfish,  our  every-day  life  crowds  out 
the  thouglit  of  what  men  and  women  areenduriu": 
w^ho  have  not  had  our  chances,  wdio  have  had  no 
chance  to  grow  up  anything  but  depraved,  who 
have  had  everything  against  them.  I  find  coming 
here  is  an  excellent  tonic  for  keeping  my  inner 
man  healthy." 

"Ah,  yes,  I  see  you  disclaim  being  purely  a 
philanthropist,  You  study  your  individual  needs 
as  well.  I  fear  only  a  few  go  so  far  into  the 
analysis  of  their  motives." 

"  I  find  my  most  healthful  way  to  work  is  to 
forget  inyself  as  far  as  ]^ossible,  certainly  not  to 
undertake  too  much  analysis  of  my  motives.     If 


IJKK   AT   OXFORD 


225 


;  to 

:  to 

If 


I 


I  did  I  sliould  give  myself  upas  a  worthless  speci- 
men. I  think  these  poor  creatures  will  find  the 
help  I  give  them  much  the  same  no  matter  what 
motive  impels  me  to  the  task." 

"  I  take  exception  to  that  statement,"  Seymour 
said.  "The  gifts  we  receive  from  another  are 
affected  by  the  spirit  through  which  they  conic." 

"  That  may  be  true  philosophy,  but  I  am  glad 
to  believe  that  religion  has  no  cast-iron  rules  in 
the  matter.  I  have  known  the  veriest  scamp  get 
np  in  this  hall,  move  his  hearers  deeply  by  his 
appeals  to  them  to  live  better,  and  bring  them 
out  to  the  penitents'  seats,  as  few  consistent  work- 
ers can  do.  These  are  mysteries  which  sometimes 
perplex  me." 

"That  is  true,  but  what  I  want  now  is  to  take 
you  home  with  me  to  dinner.  These  problems 
will  await  adjustment  later  on." 

"Do  you  mean  to  your  own  home?"  Alan 
asked,  with  evident  anxiety. 

"  Yes,  my  mother  will  be  very  glad  to  meet 
you.  They  all  fancy  they  know  you  very  well 
through  my  descriptions." 

"I  have  no  other  suit  with  me — I  could  not 
think  of  presenting  myself  before  your  family 
in  such  costume." 

"My  dear  fellow,  that  need  not  give  you  a  mo- 
ment's uneasiness.  My  mother,  and  all  the  rest  of 
them,  welcome  my  friends  in  whatever  garments 


f  1 1  If-'V 


'i 


226  TIIK   MASTER  OK   DP^KPI.AVVN 

suit  their  convenience.  You  have  no  idea  what 
a  sensible  woman  my  mother  is  about  these  triflinji^ 
conventionalities.  Yet  Lady  Seymour  is  a  superl) 
woman, — pardon  my  egotism  for  saying  so, — and  I 
think  you  will  love  her  when  you  know  her. 
There  are  few  like  her  in  this  part  of  the  world. 
I  believe  you  are  very  opulent  in  noble  women  in 
America.  Some  day  you  will  let  me  visit  you,  I 
hope." 

Alan  turned  a  very  glad  face  to  his  friend. 

"Won't  you  come  home  with  me  for  the  sum- 
mer? I  think  you  will  like  the  quiet  of  Deep- 
lawn  for  a  while,  and  then  we  can  go  on  long 
tramps  in  the  mountains  or  along  shore,  wherever 
you  like."     Alan  spoke  with  boyish  enthusiasm. 

"  It  is  just  what  I  have  been  longing  for,  but 
I  hesitated  to  beg  the  invitation,  especially  as  you 
are  so  reticent  about  home  and  kindred." 

"  I  have  no  kindred  nearer  than  cousins  and 
uncles,  except  a  brother ;  but  he  is  a  wreck  through 
dissipation.     That  is  the  cause  of  my  reticence." 

"We  take  this  tram-car."  Seymour  signaled 
the  driver,  and  together  they  entered  the  car. 

"  I  may  as  well  go  with  you  as  far  as  you  go. 
I  am  tired  and  shall  make  no  more  visits  to-day," 
Alan  said,  as  he  dropped  into  a  vacant  seat  beside 
his  friend. 

"  Of  course  you  will  go  as  far  as  I  go,  and  no 
farther  for  some  hours  to  come.     To  keep  you  in 


LIFE  AT  OXFORD 


227 


'R 


M 


)) 


countenance,  I  will  wear  what  I  have  on/'  He 
crave  Alan  a  critical  glance.  "It  will  make  little 
difference  what  any  of  us  wear  where  you  are, 
since,  by  all  odds,  you  will  be  the  handsomest 
man  in  almost  any  gathering  without  much  help 
from  vour  tailor." 

''  I  am  out  of  sorts  to-night,  and  would  rather 
present  myself  before  your  mother  some  other 
time  and  under  more  favorable  circumstances  ;  I 
shall  no  doubt  fall  in  love  with  her  and  want  to 
visit  her  again,"  Alan  rejoined,  ignoring  the  com- 
pliment. 

*'  Is  it  only  the  older  women  you  are  given  to 
falling  in  love  with  ?  "  Seymour  said,  with  a  smile ; 
"  or  have  you  some  sweetheart  among  those  beau- 
tiful country-women  of  yours  with  the  mammoth 
fortunes  ?  " 

"  I  never  had  a  sweetheart  in  my  life,"  Alan 
said,  frankly.  "  My  brother  had  so  much  of  that 
sort  of  thing,  that  I  made  up  my  mind  it  was  not 
going  to  be  the  main  pursuit  of  my  life,  as  it  seems 
to  be  for  some.  If  I  ever  fall  in  love  I  shall  do 
my  best  to  win  the  damsel,  but  I  won't  let  it  de- 
stroy my  happiness  if  I  fail.  That  is  only  one 
experience  out  of  a  thousand  that  go  to  make  up 
the  sum  total  of  our  existence." 

"  Hear  him ! "  Seymour  said,  with  a  smile. 
**  My  dear  boy,  if  you  ever  should  be  caught  you 
won't  philosophize  in  that  calm  way.     When  you 


22S  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 

are  '  in  for  it '  you  will  think  it  is  a  life  or  death 
matter ;  at  least  that  is  the  experience  of  some 
poor  wretches." 

"Then  I  most  devoutly  hope  I  may  never  be 
'  in  for  it,'  and  I  scarcely  think  I  shall." 

"  Don't  be  too  lofty.  I  hope  I  may  be  your 
confidant  when  the  time  does  come." 

"  I  promise  to  make  you  acquainted,  if  I  do  be- 
come a  victim,  with  all  my  symptoms  and  suffer- 
ings." 

In  due  time  they  reached  the  street  that  led  to 
Seymour's  residence,  and  the  subject  of  sweet- 
hearts was  changed  to  topics  more  suited  to  the 
day.  Alan  made  no  further  resistance  to  his 
friend's  entreaties.  To  tell  the  truth,  he  had  a 
strong  curiosity  to  see  what  this  young  man's 
mother  was  like.  He  had  an  impression  that 
boys,  as  a  rule,  were  mostly  what  their  mothers 
made  them  by  heredity  and  training.  He  fancied 
the  lady  mother  of  this  young  man  must  be  of 
the  finest  quality  of  motherhood  to  produce  such 
a  son. 

The  house  was  a  grand  abode,  but  it  was  not 
the  house  so  much  as  the  occupants  that  Alan 
was  interested  to  see.  Seymour  took  him  directly 
to  his  own  room,  where  he  was  able  to  make  a  few 
needed  additions  to  his  toilet,  and  then  he  was 
assured  that  he  would  pass  muster  with  the  best. 
A  servant  was  summoned  and  the  command  given 


1 


UFE   AT  OXFORD 


229 


be 


a 


for  an  extra  plate  to  be  laid,  and  then  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  drawing  room  for  an  informal  pre- 
sentation before  dinner  should  be  announced. 
Alan  found  a  small  circle  gathered  around  a 
bright  wood  fire,  some  half-dozen  or  more  ladies 

and  gentlemen.     He  was  able  at  the  first  crlance 

1  •    •        • 
to  distinguish  I^ady  Seymour,  who  at  once  rose 

and  came  graciously  to  meet  her  son  and  welcome 

the  friend  he  had  brouo-ht. 

"This    is    Mr.    Rivers,    my   American    friend, 
whom  you  have  heard  me  frequently  mention." 

The  presentation  was  made  so  informally  Alan 
was  at  once  put  at  ease.  Sir  Thomas  had  the 
same  cordial  hand-clasp  as  his  son.  One  of  the 
other  gentlemen  proved  to  be  one  of  London's 
most  famous  divines,  whom  Alan  had  heard  from 
afar  and  admired,  not  only  for  his  eloquence  and 
strong  intellectual  grasp,  but  for  his  fearlessness 
in  the  performance  of  whatever  he  felt  to  be  duty. 
Two  of  the  ladies,  he  discovered,  were  daughters 
of  his  host.  They  struck  him  as  pretty,  lady- 
like girls,  but  not  nearly  so  beautiful  and  fas- 
cinating as  Lady  Seymour  and  she  seemed  to  be 
drawn  at  once  to  him.  There  was  a  rare  lighting 
up  of  countenance  as  her  son  Lionel  described 
the  mission  hall,  the  speaker,  and  the  motley 
crowd  listening  with  such  rapt  attention  to  his 
words. 

"I  wish  you  could  have   been  there,   mother. 


■ 


230  the;  master  of  deeplawn 

Some  day  when  he  talks  to  them  we  must  go  to- 
gether. ' ' 

"I  shall  be  most  glad  to  go,"  she  said,  heartily. 

Alan  looked  his  surprise. 

"To  such  a  place!"  he  exclaimed.  "Surely 
you  would  not  think  of  it?" 

"  My  mother  is  not  afraid  of  anything.  She  is 
as  well  known  in  Whitechapel  as  in  Mayfair,  I    -.  , 

believe ;  indeed,  her  heart  is  more  interested  in 
the  former  place,  I  am  sure." 

There  was  reverence  as  well  as  admiration  in 
the  look  Alan  bent  upon  her,  but  he  was  silent. 
She  met  his  glance  and  iustiuctively  felt  that  just 
then  silence  was  the  highest  compliment  that  he 
could  pay  her. 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  and  my  son  are  friends," 
she  said,  earnestly. 

A  warm  flush  crept  into  his  face  as  he  bowed 
his  thanks,  but  was  again  silent.  The  conversa- 
tion then  became  general,  but  i\lan  still  remained 
near  her  ladyship  aud  she  seemed  pleased  with  his 
mute  admiration.  When  dinner  was  announced 
he  took  the  eldest  daughter  and  sat  beside  her, 
but  still  his  attention  was  divided  with  the 
mother. 

When  they  returned  to  the  drawing  room,  lyionel 
said  to  him,  jokingly  :  "  Have  you  fallen  in  love 
with  my  mother?  I  never  saw  you  so  devoted 
to  a  lady  before." 


■ 


LIFE  AT  OXFORD 


231 


"  I  certainly  have  fallen  in  love,  bnt  it  is  the 
love  I  would  have  given  my  own  mother  if  I  had 
known  her  ;  I  never  realized  so  keenly  my  loss  as 
I  do  to-day." 

"  I  shall  tell  my  mother  some  time,  what  you 
say.  I  believe  too,  she  has  taken  you  into  her 
heart.  She  does  not  often  treat  strangers  as  she 
has  you  to-night." 

"  There  is  no  need  for  explanation  or  protesta- 
tion when  there  is  genuine  friendship." 

"What  a  philosopher!  When  I  like  anyone 
particularly  I  want  to  tell  them  so,  and  have  a 
compact  of  mutual  friendship." 

"  You  never  made  any  such  arrangement  with 


me 


)} 


"  Well,  no,  there  did  not  seem  any  necessity. 
I  felt  I  could  trust  you  without  a  formal  under- 
standing on  the  subject." 

"  I  can  do  the  same  with  her  ladyship,  your 
mother. ' ' 

"  Women  are  different  from  us  in  that  respect. 
You  have  no  idea  how  inquisitive  they  are  about 
the  way  their  friends  regard  them.  I  fancy  you 
have  not  had  much  experience  with  womankind, 
their  ways  and  peculiarities." 

"  I  have  not,  neither  have  I  felt  my  loss  very 
keenly  until  to-day  ;  but  if  I  had  a  friend  among 
women,  I  would  want  her  to  understand  that  I 
cared  for  her  always,  no  matter  if  I  never  told  her 


232  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 

SO.  Indeed,  it  seems  to  me  it  would  only  weaken 
the  bond  connecting  us  if  it  were  necessary  for 
me  to  repeat  the  assurances  of  my  regard." 

"  I  most  devoutly  hope  some  good  woman  will 
snare  you  before  long  ;  you  will  find  yourself  in  a 
new  world,  where  all  your  preconceived  philoso- 
phies and  axioms  will  avail  you  nothing.  lUit  we 
seem  determined  to  fall  into  argument  on  this 
topic  to-day.  You  must  hear  my  sister  Lucia  play. 
I  noticed  you  did  not  seem  to  get  on  ver}'  inti- 
mate terms  duriny:  dinner.  She  is  next  best  to  mv 
mother,  only  it  takes  a  long  time  to  find  her  out. 
She  is  as  much  like  a  sphinx  as  yourself,  I  be- 
lieve." 

Lionel  went  to  his  sister,  and  a  moment  after 
she  followed  him  to  the  piano.  Alan  drew  near. 
He  liked  nmsic,  but  he  was  fastidious  about  that, 
as  well  as  many  other  things. 

"  It  seems  to  me  I  can  tell  what  suits  you  in  the 
way  of  music,"  Lionel  said,  as  he  turned  over  a 
pile.  At  last  he  lifted  a  folio  and  placing  it  ])e- 
fore  his  sister,  said  :  "  This  will  suit  the  day,  and 
I  think  the  audience  as  well." 

It  was  selections  from  the  oratorios  of  several  of 
the  great  masters.  Lucia  struck  the  opening  bars. 
Alan  failed  to  recognize  the  composition,  as  he 
was  not  deeply  versed  in  musical  lore,  but  he  had 
a  large  capacity  for  the  enjoyment  of  superior 
music. 


J. 


UFE  AT  OXFORD 


^33 


He  glanced  at  the  player,  the  first  time  he  had 
looked  at  her  closely.  Her  face  was  in  profile,  fine 
and  clearly  cnt  as  a  cameo,  with  exqnisite  coloriiicr. 
While  she  played  it  brightened,  and  a  look  of  con- 
scions  power  took  the  place  of  the  girlish  timidity 
that  had  at  first  strnck  him  as  her  characteristic 
expression.  She  now  looked  more  like  her 
mother,  or  as  her  mother  might  have  looked 
five  and  twenty  years  before. 

Alan  found  himself  more  interested  in  the  mu- 
sician than  the  music,  and  was  slightlv  confused 
when  at  the  end  of  the  selection  Lionel  turned  to 
him  and  said  : 

"  Don't  you  think  Lucia  interprets  the  thought 
of  the  master  very  well  for  a  girl  ?''' 

"  That  is  not  fair  ;  as  if  girls  could  not  compre- 
hend  the  best  things,"  Lucia  said,  playfully. 

"It  is  your  age,  dear,  and  not  your  sex,  that  I 
refer  to.  Remember,  youth  is  something  you  will 
very  quickly  get  over." 

^"  May  we  have  some  more  music?  "  Alan  pleaded. 
There  was  a  novel  fascination  for  him  in  watch- 
ing the  girlish  face  lighting  up  and  the  eyes  dilat- 
ing. It  was  tliis  more  than  the  music  'itself  in 
which  he  was  interested. 

It  seemed  they  were  lovers  of  music,  for  Lionel 
kept  turning  the  leaves  to  new  music  while  she 
obediently  translated  the  score  into  fine  harmony. 
Alan  had  never  before  realized  what  home  life 


:/ 


234  "THK   MASTER  OF  DEKPI.AWN 

meant.  He  felt  his  respect  for  Ivionel  Seymour 
growing-  stronger  as  he  thought  :  Surely  it  must 
be  a  sacrifice  to  leave  this  charming  circle,  and  go 
clown  among  the  degraded  and  unhappy;  to  climb 
dismal  attic  stairs  and  kneel  beside  some  trem- 
bling, dying  creature,  dreading  the  final  plunge 
into  awful  futurity,  and  yet  sick  unto  death  of  the 
world  he  is  leaving. 

The  music  ceased,  when  he  turned  impetuously 
to  Lionel  and  said  : 

"  You  make  me  ashamed  of  myself.  I  never 
could  tear  myself  away  from  a  fireside  like  this, 
and  go  where  we  have  been  to-day." 

"  Yes,  you  would.  Do  you  know  it  was  some 
words  of  yours  that  first  made  me  think  about  my 
life,  what  it  was,  and  what  it  might  be  ?  That  is 
why  you  are  more  to  me  in  some  ways  than  any 
other  man  in  the  world." 

Lucia  was  standing  near,  her  face  still  lighted, 
her  eyes  shining  through  a  suspicion  of  tears. 
Alan  turned  slightly  awa}'.  What  had  been  said, 
following  close  upon  the  thoughts  that  had  been 
smoulderincr  in  his  heart,  had  sent  the  ho',  blood 
mounting  to  his  temples.  Lionel  went  on,  after 
a  rather  constrained  silence,  to  say  : 

"  It  never  occurred  to  me  to  make  this  confes- 
sion to  you  before.  It  did  not  seem  necessary  ;  for 
you  always  impress  me  as  so  complete  in  yourself, 
words  of  praise  or  blame  are  alike  to  you." 


' 


I.IFK   AT  OXFORD 


235 


Alan  turned  to  Lucia  and  said  : 
"  Your  brother  scarcely  gives  me  my  due.     I  do 
not  think  any  one  could  enjoy  praise  from  friendly 
lips  more  than  I ;  my  life  has  been  a  singularly 
lonely  one,  especially  in  regard  to  kindred." 

"That  is  the  reason  some  of  our  wags  have 
dubbed  you  Melchizedek  ;  we  never  heard  >-ou 
mention  the  existence  of  a  single  human  being 
connected  with  you  by  the  tie  of  blood." 

"  As  I  told  you  before,  to-day,  I  have  no  near 
relatives  save  a  brother,  and  he  is  hopelessly  in- 
sane." 

^  Lucia  looked  excedingly  shocked,  which  Alan 
did  not  fail  to  observe,  but  if  she  could  have 
known  what  an  effort  it  was  on  the  part  of  their 
guest  to  make  the  confession,  that  was  to  him  so 
dreadful  and  yet  seemed  so  imperative,  she  would 
have  been  still  more  so. 

"  My  dear  fellow,  don't  mention  it." 
"  Well,  I  told  you  the  very  worst ;  it  only  seemed 
honorable  that  I  should  do  so." 

The  brother  and  sister  exchanged  expressive 
glances,  but  they  were  lost  upon  Alan,  for  just 
then  he  was  busy  studying  the  pattern  of  the  rug 
at  his  feet. 

The  hour  was  getting  late  and  it  was  time  for 
him  to  leave.  He  was  wishing  most  devoutly 
that  this  was  a  middle-class  family  where  etiquette 
was  not  so  rigid.     He  longed  to  come  here  for  a 


II 

!     t 
i     I 


236  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPI.AWN 

few  hours  every  time  he  came  up  to  Loudou; 
pnjbably  that  would  then  be  oftener  than  ever. 

To  his  deep  satisfaction,  when  he  was  taking 
his  leave,  an  invitation  to  repeat  his  visit  was  as 
cordially  extended  as  if  he  had  been  going  from  a 
peasant's  cottage. 


I 


CHAPTER  XIX 

ANTICIPATIONS 

A  LAN  returned  to  Oxford  the  followin<r  nioni- 
-^^  ing^  with  his  mental  horizon  considerably 
widened. 

He  had  never  reahzed  before  how  rich  life  niioht 
be ;  what  varied  sources  of  happiness  God  in  his 
love  had  provided  for  man.  He  talked  with  Sey- 
mour about  it,  for  they  occupied  the  same  com- 
partment, when  at  last  the  latter  burst  out : 

"  Why,  Rivers,  I  should  say  you  had  fallen  in 
love  with  Lucia,  only  that  I  know  it  is  impos- 
sible." 

Alan  orave  him  a  keen,  surprised  look,  and  then 
said,  dryly  : 

"  Yes,  I  know  such  a  thing  should  be  impos- 
sible, but  we  are  not  always  able  to  control  our 
wishes." 

"But — "  Lionel  hesitated,  and  then  pushing 
boldly  on  said,  "you  misunderstand  me.  I  mean 
that  you  are  not  one  to  fall  in  love  so  suddenly ; 
you  are  too  much  of  a  philosopher  for  such  weak- 
ness ;  and  then  Lucia  seems  only  a  child." 

Alan  was  silent ;  forgetting  his  promise  of  the 
previous  day,  he  would  not  talk  over  this  perplex- 

237 


238  THE   MASTKR   OF   DRKPLAWN 


r  HI 


iii<^,  torturiiig  phantasy  that  had  seized  liiiii,  so 
||||!  stranj^'e  and  different  from  any  experience  h.e  had 

ever  known,  bnt  holding  possibilities  of  happiness 
or  bitterness  that  were  bewildering-. 

I^ionel  waited  for  him  to  say  something  fnrther, 
but  Alan  turned  his  face  to  the  window,  and  was 
apparently  absorbed  in  the  landscape.  At  last 
Ivionel  broke  the  silence  by  asking : 

"  When  shall  we  see  you  again  in  London?" 

"  I  cannot  say." 

"  My  mother  bade  me  ask  you  to  stay  with  us 
the  next  time  you  came." 

"  Your  mother  is  very  kind,  but "  he  hesi- 
tated. 

"  There  can  be  no  buts.  My  mother  has 
taken  a  strong  liking  for  you.  However,  she 
did  not  bid  me  convey  that  piece  of  information 
to  you." 

"  I  may  not  go  to  London  again  until  we  sail 
for  America.  You  will  not  fail  me  in  that?" 
There  was  a  boyish  eagerness  in  face  and  voice  ..3 
he  made  the  request. 

"  I  shall  certainly  not  fail  you,  life  and  health 
permitting.  My  mother  is  charmed  with  the  idea, 
and  has  half  promised  to  come  over  in  the  fall  to 
return  with  us." 

"And  your  sister,  will  she  come  too?  I  think 
she  would  like  Deeplawn  and  our  boys." 

Lionel  shot  a  keen  glance  into  the  eager  face, 


ANTICIPATIONS 


239 


and  read  tlierc  what  the  otiier  scarcely  understood 
as  yet. 

"Very  probably  niy  sisters  will  both  00.  I 
know  they  will  be  wild  to  do  so,  when  I  convey 
to  them  your  very  kind  invitation.  My  mother 
always  takes  them  with  her  when  she  is  travelini,^ 
vShe  is  their  head  teacher,  althou-h  tliey  have 
tutors  besides.  My  mother  is  very  strong  on  edu- 
cation." 

Lionel  noticed  that  the  depression,  which  had 
at  first  puzzled  him,  now  quite  gave  way  to  un- 
usual exuberance  of  spirits,  but  he  also  found  it 
useless  to  press  any  further  the  question  of  anotlier 
visit  to  his  home.     He  asked  at  last  : 

"Wliat  did  you  mean  when  von  spoke  about 
your  boys  at  Deeplawn  ?  They  cannot  be  brothers 
or  nephews?" 

"  No,  they  are  of  different  nationalities,  and  no 
relation  to  me  except  through  our  common 
brotherhood.  I  have  Irish,  German,  Italian,  and 
our  native-born  American,  represented  there." 

"Where  did  you  get  them,  and  what  are  vou 
doing  with  them  ?  " 

"I  picked  them  up  while  I  was  at  Brown. 
They  are  genuine  'shimmers  '  from  the  most  de- 
graded parts  of  Providence.  I  began  with  thirteen, 
but  some  have  gotten  into  other  homes,  and  some' 
have  gone  back  to  the  depths  from  which  I  tried 
to  draw  them.     The  others  I  have  scattered  ainoncr 


I 


i! 


240  THE   MASTKR  OF   DEKPLAWN 

the  work-people  on  iny  property.  I  am  wanting 
to  make  farmers  of  them  all.  Indeed,  if  I  can 
accomplish  it,  I  want  some  day  to  take  a  whole 
colony  ont  into  the  far  West.  I  am  negotiatin<^ 
now  for  a  large  tract  of  government  land  for  the 
purpose." 

"Why  do  you  want  to  make  them  all  farmers?'' 

"  A  good  many  have  wild  blood  in  their  veins, 
and  a  strong  temptation  to  evil  through  heredity. 
I  believe  there  is  no  calling  so  safe  for  such  as  the 
agricultural.  I  am  trying  to  work  on  scientific 
principles,  and  not  to  blunder  any  more  than  is 
necessary  in  the  dark,  but  to  make  every  penny 
expended  bring  its  equivalent  in  helpfulness  to 
somebody." 

"  Upon  my  word,  you  are  experimenting  in 
philanthropy  on  a  rather  large  scale.  Why  have 
you  never  told  any  of  us  what  you  are  doiug?" 

"  I  did  not  think  any  of  you  were  especially  in- 
formed on  such  work.  Perhaps  I  have  made  a 
mistake,  however;  in  the  multitude  of  counsellors 
there  may  be  larger  wisdom  gained." 

"  I  did  not  mean  that  we  could  advise  with  you 
in  your  midertaking,  but  we  could  admire  aud 
appreciate  your  generous  endeavors." 

Alan  smiled  as  he  said,  playfully  : 

"  That  would  not  help  me  any.  I  make  myself 
content  to  work  without  other  commendation  than 
that  which  comes  from  the  conscience." 


ANTICIPATIONS 


241 


"  Yon  are  an  entire  commonwealth  in  yonrself, 
I  see.  You  must  come  with  me  to  London  during 
the  Easter  holidays  at  the  farthest,  for  I  want 
my  mother  to  hear  all  about  those  boys  of  yours, 
and  your  Western  colony  that  is  to  be.  You  may 
be  sure  that  now  she  will  accept  your  invitation 
to  visit  you  in  America.  Those  boys  will  take 
her,  if  nothing  else  would.  How  she  will  mother 
the  poor  fellows!  You  have  no  idea  what  a  wide, 
motherly  heart  she  has  for  such  waifs  and  strays. 
I  often  have  glimpses  of  the  great  love  of  God 
through  that  of  my  mother." 

There  were  tears  in  the  young  man's  eyes  as  he 
spoke,  making  Alan  realize  afresh  how  much  he 
had  missed  through  the  loss  of  his  mother,  and, 
indeed,  all  the  tender,  gracious  ministries  of  cul- 
tivated Christian  womanhood.  Mrs.  Dixon  and 
her  staff  of  housemaids,  for  anything  save  attend- 
ance on  his  material  comforts,  were  no  better  than 
so  many  lay  figures,  while  occasional  gatherings 
in  fashionable  drawing  rooms  gave  him  little 
chance  to  study  the  higher  types  of  wonu  nhood. 

He  plunged  more  eagerly  than  ever  into  study 
now.  There  was  so  much  to  win,  as  well  as  to 
accomplish  for  others.  To  make  himself,  by 
supremest  efforts  of  intellect  and  will,  as  complete 
in  character  and  mental  development  as  he  was 
capable  of  becoming,  was  his  aim.  The  world 
seemed  so  full  of  possibilities,  not  merely  for  per- 

Q 


] 


243  THK   MASTKR  OF   DKKPLAWN 

sonal  development,  but  for  service,  he  felt  every 
hour  as  it  came  was  freighted  with  promise.  Life 
appeared  to  him  so  superbly  rich  in  its  manifold 
gifts,  if  he  were  only  brave  and  true  enough  to 
grasp  it  in  all  its  completeness.  While  he  recog- 
nized all  its  uncertainties  and  possibilities  of 
anguish,  he  also  realized  that  out  of  them  might 
come  development  that  no  success  or  enjoyment 
could  ever  bring.  So  he  was  able  calmly  to  front 
whatever  the  future  might  hold,  strengthened  by 
his  confidence  in  the  infinite  wisdom  to  which  he 
had  entrusted  everything. 

Easter  came  and  went,  but  he  did  not  go  up  to 
lyondon;  he  was  perfectly  conscious  of  a  very 
strong  drawing  in  that  direction,  but  there  were 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  a  further  acquaintance 
that  time  and  circumstance  might  or  miofht  not 
remove.  In  case  it  should  be  the  latter,  the  better 
it  would  be  for  his  peace  of  mind  to  see  as  little 
as  possible  of  one  who  might  have  it  in  her  power 
to  test  his  philosophy  very  fully. 

The  time  came,  however,  when  he  must  make 
the  visit  or  else  appear  ungrateful.  Another 
college  year  had  closed.  The  splendid  ceremo- 
nies, when  the  hundreds  of  students  year  after 
year  complete  their  courses,  had  passed  b\-. 
Lionel  Seymour  was  among  these,  and,  with  no 
particular  work  awaiting  him  he,  with  the  others, 
was  glad  this  portion  of  his  life  was  closed.     lie 


ANTICIPATIONS 


243 


was  just  now  full  of  enthusiasm  over  the  journey 
to  America  with  Alan,  which  they  were  to  begin 
in  a  few  days. 

xAlan  had  consented  to  accompany  him  as  far 
as  London  in  order  that  he  might,  in  person,  in- 
vite Lady  Seymour  and  her  daughters  to  Deei> 
lawn.  He  had  been  so  reticent  about  his  other 
visit  that  Lionel  had  well-nigh  forgotten  his  sus- 
picions, or  concluded  that  he  had  mistaken  ad- 
miration for  a  deeper  sentiment. 

They  reached  home  in  the  late  twilight.  Lionel 
had  fully  expected  his  mother  and  sister  to  be 
present  with  his  father  to  witness  his  graduating 
honors,  but  a  slight  illness  had  prevented  his 
mother  from  coming.  They  found  her  able  to 
receive  them,  although  looking  somewhat  frail. 
Alan  could  not  help  coveting  the  welcome  that 
awaited  his  friend,  his  mother  and  sisters  seemed 
so  proud  of  the  limited  honors  he  had  been  able 
to  win. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  you  would  have  done  if  I 
had  got  on  as  well  as  my  friend  Rivers,"  Lionel 
said,  modestly  disclaiming  their  lavish  praises. 

"  If  I  had  any  one  to  be  so  proud  of  any  success 
I  might  win,  that  alone  would  be  better  than  the 
honors,"  Alan  said,  feeling  there  was  no  one  in  the 
wide  world  who  would  be  particularly  gladdened 
or  grieved  over  what  he  might  accomplish  or  leave 
undone. 


li.V  '! 


I 


244  the:  master  of  deeplawn 

"  You  would  have  much  more  than  your  share 
if,  with  all  your  honors  and  successes,  you  had  an 
admiring  family  circle  to  welcome  their  conquer- 
.,_  ,  ing  hero,"  was  the  laughing  rejoinder. 

"  And  without  that  admiring  circle  to  remind 
you  of  what  you  have  been  able  to  accomplish, 
you  will  soon  forget  your  honors,  and  go  on  to 
fresh  achievements.  Is  not  thaf  so?"  I^ady  Sey- 
mour asked,  kindly. 

"It  maybe.  One  must  fi^.l  one's  heart  with 
something." 

"  Your  heart,  I  should  say,  was  overflowing 
already,"  Lionel  said.  "Do  you  know,  mother, 
he  has  a  whole  colony  of  boys  under  his  wing?  I 
tell  him  they  alone  will  be  sufficient  attraction  to 
draw  you  to  America." 

"I  do  not  think  I  shall  need  even  as  much  as 
that.  I\Iy  physicians  order  a  sea  voyage  as  soon 
as  I  am  able  to  travel.  They  spoke  very  favorably 
of  a  trip  to  America.  If  you  and  Mr.  Rivers  will 
undertake  to  look  after  us  while  we  are  there,  we 
shall  feel  perfectly  safe  to  start  out  alone.  Sir 
Thomas  has  a  great  dislike  to  a  long  sea  voyage ; 
even  the  trip  from  Dover  to  Calais  tries  his  nerves 
severely."  She  seemed  anxious  to  explain  to 
Alan  why  they  undertook  so  long  a  journey  un- 
attended. 

"Shall  we  not  wait  for  you?"  Alan  asked, 
eagerly. 


ANTICIPATIONS 


245 


"It  is  not  necessary.  I^ionel  could  not  content 
himself,  I  fear. " 

"If  you  desire  it,  mother,  I  will  certainly  wait 
for  you."  His  face  expressed  his  real  sentiments 
more  truthfully  than  his  words. 

"No,  Ivionel,  I  will  not  accept  that  sacrifice.  I 
shall  not  be  well  enough  to  leave  for  some  time, 
and  then  we  shall  have  the  joy  of  looking  for 
your  faces  among  the  crowd  when  we  reach  the 
land.     It  will  be  something  to  anticipate." 

She  did  not  know  the  pleasure  it  gave  her  guest 
to  hear  her  use  the  plural,  neither  had  she  any 
idea  with  what  eagerness  he  too  would  be  antici- 
pating that  meeting  amid  the  crowd  on  the  Cunard 
wharf  at  East  Boston.  He  was  naturally  shy  with 
ladies.  To-night  he  was  more  so  than  usual. 
Lucia  and  Maude  wondered  that  Lionel  should 
see  so  much  to  admire  in  one  so  quiet,  and  yet 
they  too  recognized  some  rare  charm  about  him, 
more  easily  experienced  than  described. 

Sir  Thomas  joined  them  later,  and  then  the 
experiences  of  the  last  few  days  were  recounted. 
Alan  noticed  that  Lady  Seymour  and  her  daugh- 
ters were  as  much  inclined  as  any  one  to  make 
heroes  of  the  men  who  had  taken  double  first 
honors  in  their  respective  colleges;  while  she  and 
Sir  Thomas  went  over  the  family  histories  of 
those  whom  they  knew,  speculating  how  this  or 
that    one    had    suddenly   developed    intellectual 


246 


THE   MASTER  OF   D?:KPLAWN 


powers  not  usual  in  his  family.  He  was  amused 
at  the  persistence  with  which  Lady  Seymour  en- 
deavored to  trace  tiieir  pedigree  back  to  some  re- 
mote maternal  ancestress  who  had  a  turn  for 
literary  pursuits,  generally  with  some  success. 

"One  needs  to  have  brains  on  his  mother's 
side,  near  or  remote,  if  he  would  amount  to 
much  intellectually,  in  my  wife's  estimation," 
Sir  Thomas  said,  laughingly.  "  Slie  holds  us 
fathers  very  lightly  indeed  in  those  matters." 

"  No  one  has  ever  heard  me  express  such  a 
mutinous  thought,"  she  said,  brightly. 

"  My  dear,  the  dullest  of  mortals  could  read  it 
between  the  lines ;  but,  remember,  I  do  not  wish 
to  deny  your  theory.  My  own  children  will  be 
more  clever  if  they  take  after  their  mother." 

"That  is  a  very  gracious  concession,  Lady  Sey- 
mour," Alan  said. 

"  My  mother  is  well  used  to  those  concessions," 
Ivucia  remarked,  quietly. 

"  But  they  do  not  spoil  her.  We  can  never 
make  her  understand  her  actual  worth,  no  matter 
how  profuse  we  may  be  with  our  compliments," 
Lionel  said,  with  a  fond  look  into  the  lovely  face 
smiling  so  tenderly  upon  him. 

"  Shall  we  turn  the  conversation  ?  Mr.  Rivers 
will  be  surfeited  with  the  enumeration  of  my  ex- 
cellencies. W^  seem  to  reckon  him  as  one  of 
ourselves,  it  seems  to  me." 


I 


ANTICIPATIONS 


247 


a 


A  quick  look  of  pleasure  flashed  from  his  face, 
and  she  remembered  that  he  had  no  near  kindred, 
and  to  be  treated  in  that  way  by  Lionel's  family 
would  probabl}-  please  rather  than  annoy  him.     - 

Alan  was  amazed  when  Ivionel  pointed  to  his 
watch. 

"  Do  you  know  that  a  to-morrow  is  just  upon 
us  ?  Only  three  or  four  minutes  of  this  notable  day 
remain." 

Alan  took  out  his  own  watch  to  convince 
Lionel  that  he  was  wrong,  but  that  too,  proved 
that  the  evening  must  soon  be  a  memory.  Lucia 
then  went  to  the  piano,  the  evening  hymn  was 
sung,  Lionel  led  in  prayer,  and  the  good-nights 
were  spoken,  thus  ending  one  of  the  happiest 
evenings  of  Alan's  life. 


>) 


CHAPTER  XX 

WYNDHURST 

LIONEL  begged  for  a  week  before  leaving  for 
America.  He  was  anxious  to  go  down  to 
Hampshire  for  a  few  days,  to  their  conntry  seat, 
and  show  Alan  the  honse  that  had  sheltered  the 
Seymours  for  six  hundred  years;  where  the  barons 
of  the  olden  time  had  held  high  festival  with  the 
neighboring  gentry  and  their  own  retainers.  Here 
brides  had  come  in  their  dewy  youth,  spent  their 
brief  term  and  then,  aged  and  wrinkled  dames, 
had  passed  to  the  other  world,  leaving  behind 
them  as  tokens  of  their  individual  selves  only  a 
faded  portrait  in  the  gallery  and  nothing  more. 

Here  boys  and  girls  for  twenty  generations  had 
indulged  their  dreams  of  valor  and  of  happiness, 
and  now  were  themselves  scarcelv  memories,  so 
poor  a  record  does  this  world  keep  of  the  most  of 
its  sons  and  daughters. 

Alan  was  charmed  with  the  prospect  of  visiting 
this  old  baronial  hall  and  willingly  postponed  his 
journey  for  the  purpose. 

Lionel  was  anxious  to  have  his  sisters  accom- 
pany them. 

*'  It  will  be  gloomy  in  the  old  house  without 
248 


WYNDHURST 


249 


some  nrirlisli  faces  to  brigliteii  it,"  he  pleaded. 
But  his  mother,  with  her  keen  sense  of  the  fitness 
of  thiiicrs,  was  not  willing  to  let  them,  unless  she 
herself  acconipanfed  them,  and  this,  in  her  present 
health,  was  impossible. 

"  Madame  .Malet  will  come  then,"  he  suggested. 
She  was  the  French  governess  and  a  stickler  for 
the  proprieties  ;  but  Madame  did  not  approve  any 
more  than  her  ladyshij),  so  the  young  men  went 
off  alone. 

Alan  was  sensitive  enough  to  wonder,  if  he  had 
been  to  the  manner  born,  would  my  lady  have 
been  so  strict ;  but  he  did  not  let  the  troublesome 
fancy  long  affect  his  spirits.  Lionel  telegraphed 
for  a  team  to  meet  them  some  twenty  miles  from 
Wyndhurst,  so  that  they  might  enjoy  the  drive 
tlirough  country  lanes  and  among  the  hills.  They 
reached  the  Hall  in  the  late  afternoon.  The 
approach  to  it  was  through  a  mile-long  avenue  of 
elms  and  oaks,  with  glimpses  tlirough  the  trees  of 
park  and  meadow  fair  enough,  almost,  for  a  world 
where  sin  had  never  entered.  As  they  drove 
slowly  along  lyionel  said  : 

"Do  you  blame  me  that  I  have  no  higher 
ambition  than  to  live  here  by-and-by  with  my 
boys  and  girls,  making  my  tenantry  as  happy  as 
I  can,  fulfilling  both  in  letter  and  spirit  the  duty 
of  the  country  squire?  I  will  not,  of  course,  con- 
fine myself  to  this,  but  do  also  what  lies  in  my 


250 


TIIK   MASTKR  OK  DEEPLAWN 


^i^ 


power  to  help  the  erring  and  wretched  to  a  better 
lite." 

''  It  is,  no  doubt,  a  cheerful  outlook  into  the 
future ;  but  you  must  first  make  sure  it  is  your 
only  callini^,"  Alan  said,  gravely. 

"There  must  be  the  rich  and  poor,  the  high  and 
the  lowly.  Is  not  that  a  necessity  in  the  polity  of 
this  planet?"  Lionel  asked,  a  trifle  anxiously. 
"  You  know  Christ  said,  '  Render  unto  Ca.\sar  the 
things  that  are  Ctesar's.'  " 

"He  also  commanded  the  rich  young  ruler  to 
leave  all  and  follow  him." 

"You  are  yourself  very  rich?"  Lionel  ques- 
tioned. 

"My  income  is  large,  but  I  am  forced  to  stint 
myself  to  make  my  yearly  income  and   outlay 

balance." 

"May  I  ask  whence  the  necessity  for  such 
economy  on  your  part  ?  " 

"  Conscience  commands  it." 

"  You  do  not  sell  all,  as  the  young  ruler  was 
commanded  to  do." 

"  For  the  excellent  reason  that  my  property 
yields  a  larger  income  than  funds  otherwise  in- 
vested might  do,  and  besides,  it  is  safer." 

"  The  command  was  given  to  sell  and  give  it 
up,  if  you  remember,"   Lionel  persisted,  with  a 

smile. 

"  I  have  thought  seriously  about  that  too,  but  it 


WVNDHURST 


251 


seems  to  nie  that  I  can  be  as  safe  an  almoner  of 
my  own  means  as  any  of  the  great  relij^ious  cor- 
porations to  wliicli  I  nn'o;ht  entrnst  it.  My  will  is 
made  in  case  of  death." 

"  Yon  think  of  every tliin.!^s  it  seems  to  me.  In 
this  case  can  I  not  do  the  same?  Keep  my 
property,  and  nse  my  own  discretion  in  the  way 
my  o;ifts  are  bestowed  ?  Or  rather,  do  that  wlic-n  I 
come  into  fnll  possession  at  my  father's  death." 

"  Von  may  have  a  o-otjd  many  years  to  live 
before  that  takes  place  and  yon  will  have  oifts 
nnoccnpied  in  the  meantime.  Conld  yon  not  go 
to  India,  or  Africa,  any  place  that  men  are  sorely 
needed,  and  accomplish  before  that  time  a  splendid 
work,  revolntionize  in  some  way  a  thonsand  lives 
which  in  God's  sio^ht  are  as  precions  as  onrs? 
After  that,  there  might  be  years  of  rest  and  enjoy- 
ment for  yon." 

"Yes,  and  I  might  die  in  those  poisonons 
climates,  and  what  then?  This  property  wonld 
pass  into  a  distant  branch  of  the  family  ;  I  am  the 
only  hope  of  onr  line  of  the  Seymonrs." 

"  Take  yonr  wife  with  yon  and  send  yonr  boys 
and  girls  home  to  yonr  mother.  She  wonld  train 
them  as  well  as  yon  conld." 

"  My  promised  wife  wonld  not  consent  to  snch 
a  conrse." 

"Have  yon  asked  her?" 

"  Certainly  not,  it  would  be  useless.     She  is  the 


252 


THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


ill 


dau<;liter  of  an  earl,  a  brave,  true  girl,  but  not 
willing  to  be  a  martyr  by  any  means." 

"  If  you  ask  her  consent  your  duty  will  be  done, 
and  .tlie  responsibility  will  be  with  her.  Pardon 
me  for  being  so  insistent,  but  the  conversation 
was  suggested  by  you.  I  am  merely  telling  you 
what  I  think." 

'^  Would  you  be  willing  to  go  out  and  bury 
yourself  like  that  ?  "   Lionel  asked. 

"  I  have  envied  the  men  who  had  the  call.  God 
knows  there  is, nothing  I  would  like  better,  but 
duty,  and  circumstances  I  cannot  control,  point  in 
another  direction.  I  have  given  myself  to  God's 
service,  heart  and  soul,  wherever  he  appoints." 

Lionel  was  silent  for  some  time,  at  last  he  said : 

"  I  wish  you  could  see  Helen.  If  you  could 
be  with  her  for  a  few  days  you  might  inspire  her. 
May  I  write  her  to  come  with  my  mother  and 
sisters  to  visit  you  in  America?" 

"  With  all  my  heart  I  extend  the  invitation,  but 
not  with  the  expectation  of  influencing  her,  for 
any  call  that  I  might  give  to  such  work  would 
not  sustain  her  long  amid  the  difficulties  and  lone- 
liness of  a  foreign  land." 

"  You  might  waken  her  interest;  nine-tenths  of 
the  Christian  world,  it  seems  to  me,  are  asleep. 
Sometimes  when  I  am  talking  with  you,  the  old 
question  asked  of  the  Master  by  his  disciples 
comes    to    me    powerfully,    *  Who  then  can   be 


WYNDHURST 


253 


of 


>lcs 

1)6 


saved  ? '  The  answer  given  by  him  does  not 
quiet  my  conscience." 

The  carria*;e  had  readied  tlie  main  entrance, 
where  a  woman  in  bhick  silk,  with  a  couple  wf 
maids,  were  waitin,i>^  to  welcome  the  younj^  master. 
Alan  ji^lanctd  ea<^erly  at  the  huj^e  pile  of  stone. 
Gloomy  enough  it  seemed  as  it  towered  above 
them,  covered  with  ivy.  The  cenln^l  part  was 
very  ancient,  he  could  see  at  once.  Loophole 
windows  and  frowning  turrets  confionted  them 
with  no  cheerful  air  of  welcome,  but  there  were 
additions  of  a  later  date  that  had  a  mo  z  houRlike 
appearance. 

Ivionel  spoke  graciously  to  the  women,  and 
introduced  Alan  to  Mrs.  Deems,  the  Lousekecper. 
vShe  was  a  heavy,  stately  sort  of  body,  much  more 
impressed  with  the  dignities  of  the  house  than  by 
the  actual  owners.  She  led  tue  way  thrt)ugli  a 
long  hall  that  ran  all  the  way  to  the  rear  of  the 
building,  some  seventy  feet  or  more.  A  veritable 
museum  it  seemed  to  Alan  as,  in  a  swift  glance,  he 
took  in  its  stately  proportions  and  vast  collection 
of  interesting  objects,  ancient  and  modern. 

''This  part  of  the  house  is  my  mother's  favorite," 
Lionel  said,  as  he  paused  with  Alan  beside  an 
ancient  coat  of  mail,  its  empty  casque  presenting 
a  more  forbidding  aspect  than  the  most  warlike 
countenance.  "  I  mean,  this  whole  room,"  he 
added,  seeing  Alan's  look  of  surprise  thut  this 


Wi    wvm  Mom^^ 


254 


THK   MASTER  OF   DP:EPLAWN 


relic  of  five  hundred  years  ago  should  have  a 
special  charin  for  one  so  gentle. 

"I  believe  this  place  is  full  of  people  for  her. 
When  she  came  here  a  bride,  she  had  at  first  a 
horror  of  it,  and  not  until  I  was  a  little  toddler  at 
her  side,  making  bold  with  the  armor  my  an- 
cestors used  to  wear,  and  with  their  swords  and 
battle-axes,  did  she  grow  interested  in  them.  She 
has  a  vivid  imagination,  and  has  read  and  dreamed 
so  much  about  these  old  Seymours  who  have  gone 
to  dust  that  they  have  become  nearly  like  real 
flesh  and  blood  creatures  to  her.  Lucia  is  much 
the  same.  vShe  is  never  so  happy  as  at  Wynd- 
hurst.  ]\Iy  father  tells  her  she  must  never  marry 
unless  her  husband  can  take  her  to  some  such 
home.  I  tell  her  nothing  short  of  ducal  halls, 
with  histories  ranging  back  a  thousand  years  or 
more,  will  satisfy  her.  She  has  such  an  alert 
mind,  our  few  hundreds  of  years  of  antiquity  are 
scarcely  enough  for  her." 

Alan  turned  abruptly  away  and  began  studying 
a  jeweled  sword  that  once  was  borne  by  Warwick, 
the  king-maker.     lyionel  soon  interrupted  him. 

"We  must  get  ready  for  dinner.  Mrs.  Deems 
says  everything  is  done  to  a  turn.  I  have  ordered 
our  rooms  adjoining  in  the  older  part  of  the  house. 
We  have  a  traditionary  ghost  or  two  there,  and  I 
thought  you  might  like  to  form  their  acquaint- 
ance, if  their  ghostships  are  so  disposed." 


WYNDIIURST 


255 


M 


"  It  will  be  deli<^htfiil,  but  I  am  afraid  — 

Lionel  interrupted  him. 

"  How  can  it  be  delightful,  if  you  are  afraid  ?" 
he  said,  laughing. 

"I  was  going  to  add,  lam  afraid  they  won't 
favor  me  with  an  interview." 

'•  I  am  very  sorry  we  have  no  way  of  stirring 
them  up,  and  I  am  of  the  opinion  they  have  left  us 
altogether.  There  has  been  no  complaint  laid 
against  them  since  my  mother  came.  Fresh  ser- 
vants may  have  had  something  to  do  with  it. 
She  did  not  care  for  the  service  when  she  came, 
and  pensioned  all  of  them,  bringing  in  a  new  sup- 
ply. It  was  no  doubt  more  modern  and  comfort- 
able ;  but,  as  a  boy,  there  was  nothing  I  enjoyed 
better  than  a  visit  to  the  garrulous  old  creatures 
to  get  them  talking  of  the  traditions  and  ghosts 
of  Wyndhurst." 

They  had  now  reached  the  rooms  appropriated 
to  them  on  the  second  floor.  There  was  a  bright 
fire  burning  in  each,  which  was  a  necessity  be- 
cause of  the  dampness.  The  tiny  windows  let  in 
such  broken  rays  of  light,  that  the  fires,  shedding 
a  cheery  glow,  quite  eclipsed  the  sunshine.  There 
was  only  a  dressing  room  dividing  their  rooms, 
which  Lionel  planned  they  were  to  share  in 
common. 

"This  is  splendid,"  Alan  said,  heartily,  as  he 
stood  surveying  the  quaint,  antique  appointments 


1,1 


256 


THK  MASTER  OF   DKKl'UAWN 


of  his  room.  "How  can  I  entertain  you  at  Dce|)« 
lawn  after  tliis?  But  renicni])er,  we  Americans 
are  only  boys  yet ;  five  hundred  years  hence  we 
may  have  old  houses,  ghosts,  traditions,  and  all." 

"You  have  sonietliin<i;  vastly  better  than  the-e 
now,  «^rand-souled  men  and  women,  who  come 
over  here  and  stir  us  up  as  with  a  trumpet-call. 
We  will  gladly  lend  you  our  old  houses  and  tradi- 
tions if  you  will  help  us  with  your  noble  work- 
ers." 

"But  none  of  you  would  care  to  go  over  there 
for  life  and  leave  behind  you  these  treasures  of  b)- 
gone  days,"  Alan  said,  a  little  sadly.  "I  mean 
those  who  own  such  things  inherit  them  from 
long  lines  of  vanished  ancestors." 

''One  does  get  attached  to  such  things;  they 
pass  down  from  father  to  son  as  much  as  the  in- 
herited physical  or  moral  traits ;  but  some  do  not 
seem  to  hold  them  very  dear.  Now  and  then  a 
scion  of  our  old  no])ility  tries  to  escape  from  it 
all  and  plunges  into  frontier  life  in  Australia, 
seeking  to  hide  even  his  identity  as  he  herds  his 
sheep  and  cattle  and  looks  in  the  rosy  faces  of  his 
peasant  boys  and  girls." 

"  It  is  only  our  own  sex  that  does  that,"  Alan 
said,  taking  up  an  ancient  vase  and  examining  it 
critically. 

The  dinner  bell  rang,  and  they  were  forced  to 
hurry  with  their  limited  toilets,  else  Mrs.  Deems' 


WYNDIIURST 


257 


Ian 
it 


to 


lUS 


careful!  y  prepared  dinner  mij^ht  be  spoiled.  They 
retired  early,  after  a  brief  hour  or  two  spent  in  the 
library  and  a  short  stroll  ;  but  when  the  niornin,!^ 
broke  Alan  was  astir.  The  views  from  those  win- 
dows were  so  tantalizing  that,  leaving  Lionel  still 
sl^  eping,  he  had  an  hour's  walk  in  the  park  before 
breakfast,  besides  a  glance  at  the  "Times"  and 
his  own  mail,  which  had  been  forwarded. 

They  had  a  busy  and,  to  Alan,  most  enjoyable 
day.  There  was  so  much  to  see,  the  gathered 
treasures  of  so  many  years,  the  labor  of  so  many 
busy  and  artistic  hands. 

"What  industrious  creatures  they  were,  and 
how  painstaking  !  "  Alan  could  not  help  exclaim- 
ing over  and  over  again.  "They  shame  us  of  the 
present  da\'.  We  do  our  work  by  machinery. 
Only  inventors  and  the  artisans  who  put  their 
inventions  to  practical  use,  do  much  real  work." 

"  They  had  so  much  more  leisure  time  than  we. 
Life  was  longer  because  there  was  not  so  much 
ground  to  be  covered.  It  makes  me  feel  like  a 
pauper  when  I  think  what  there  is  to  be  done 
now,  and  how  little  time  we  have  to  accomplish 
it,"  Lionel  said,  with  great  regret  to  think  that, 
with  all  his  wealth,  he  was  no  richer  in  time  than 
the  humblest  stable  boy  at  Wyndhurst.  In  the 
portrait  gallery  Alan  lingered  a  good  while,  and 
several  times  returned  to  study  these  faces,  some 
of  them  with  such  marked  characteristics. 

u 


'I 


25*^ 


THrC   MASTKK   OI<    UKKl'LAWN 


"  I  can  see  your  face  here,  or  rather,  I  j^et 
glimpses  of  it  now  and  again.  Sometimes  it  looks 
out  from  a  canvas  centuries  old.  There  is  a 
strong  individuality  through  all  your  family  like- 
nesses." 

Alan  was  standing  before  a  full-length  portrait 
of  a  Sir  Charles  Seymour,  who  had  walked  the 
stage  of  life  some  two  hundred  years  before. 
Lionel,  as  he  looked  at  his  ancestor  some  five  re- 
moves away,  was  also  struck  by  a  likeness  to  his 
own  father. 

"I  never  noticed  it  before,"  he  said,  with  evi- 
dent pleasure.  "  Our  family  history  tells  us  he 
was  one  of  the  noblest  in  all  our  line." 

Alan  looked  at  it  thoughtfully  for  a  while,  then 
turning  to  Lionel,  he  said  : 

"It  is  enough  to  sober  one  when  we  think  that 
our  characters  may  affect  those  who  come  after  us 
centuries  hence.  I  have  had  the  curtain  of  futur- 
ity drawn  back  farther  to-day  than  ever  before, 
through  these  pictured  faces  looking  at  us  out  of 
the  past.  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  Englishmen 
rise  to  such  levels  when  you  have  so  much  to  up- 
lift you." 

"  We  have  some  terribly  poor  specimens  among 
our  ancient  families,  I  assure  you." 

"  Dame  Nature  takes  a  breathing  spell  once  in  a 
while;  she  does  not  seem  capable  of  heroic  work 
for  very  long  periods.     I  cannot  help  thinking  so 


WYNDHURST 


259 


now  and  then,  when  I  see  the  bim-Hng  work  she 
makes  of  some  men  and  women." 

''  That  is  shifting  the  responsibility  from  human 
shoulders,  is  it  not  ?  "  Lionel  asked.  "  Sometimes 
I  am  afraid  it  is  man  alone  who  does  the  bun- 
ghn or.     We  are  all  to  blame. " 

"  I  try  not  to  think  that  always.  I  see  so  many 
marred  specimens,  I  try  to  believe  that  in  some 
way  out  of  seeming  ill,  there  will  come  ultimate 
good." 

''  I  see  you  are  a  student  of  Tennyson." 
"  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  our  truest  phi- 
losophy  is  taught  by  the  poets ;  theirs  is  nearest 
the  prophetic  office  of  any  of  our  latter-dax-  writ- 
ers. But  let  us  come  back  to  practical  affairs.  I 
want  to  look  over  your  estate ;  I  mav  learn  some- 
thing that  will  help  me  when  I  plant  my  Western 
colony." 

They  went  out  together,  and  for  the  rest  of  that 
day  Alan  was  busy  among  ditches  and  plowmen 
examining  the  appointments  of  the  laborers'  cot- 
tages, and  trying  to  learn  everything  that  could 
possibly  help  him  in  the  judicious  planning  of 
that  promised  experiment  for  the  betterment  of 
boys  and  girls  of  whose  existence  he  was  still 
ignorant. 


il 


CHAPTER  XXI 


WHITKCIIAPKL 


THEY  returned  to  London  on  Saturday.  They 
were  anxious  to  be  together  on  the  Sabbath 
at  Westminster  Abbey  and  in  Whitechapel,  for 
they  had  decided  to  take  the  two  extremes  ,of  re- 
ligious service. 

A  very  eloquent  divine  was  expected  to  preach 
in  the  morning  in  Westminster  Abbey.  Tlie 
afternoon  was  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  slum 
work.  Alan  was  better  pleased  to  have  the  entire 
day  occupied.  He  was  strong-fibered  enough  to 
do  his  work  without  asking  impatiently  for  the 
crowning  blessing  of  every  true  man's  life,  the 
love  of  the  woman  he  fain  would  win.  The  visit 
to  Wyndhurst  had  accentuated  the  differences 
between  his  life  and  Lucia's.  He  was  glad  she 
was  coming  to  America,  but  no  stress  of  passionate 
affection  would  tempt  him  to  tell  her  what  she 
had  unconsciously  won.  Perhaps  it  was  better 
there  should  be  obstacles  in  the  way  that  could  not 
be  overcome,  for  his  was  but  one  life,  his  joy  of 
heart  a  unit  only  among  a  hundred  other  hearts 
that  he  might  make  glad  if  he  himself  and  his 
means  were  devoted  solely  to  that  work. 
260 


~r^ 


WHITECHAPEU  261 

As  they  rode  along,  for  they  took  the  twentN- 
n  .le.  back  ni  the  carriase,  Lionel  noticed  Alan's 

W>  ndhnrst  with  so  much  re^^ret 
"  We  sliall  all  be  down  hert-  in  the  antnmn,  and 

)on  can  stay  a  eonple  of  weeks  with  ns  on  yonr 

way  to  Oxford.     We  will   start    fron,   An.eriea 

earlier  in  order,  to  give  von  time  " 

"Yom  visit  tliere  will  be  altogether  too  short 

to  see  all  that  is  worth  seeing.     We  n.nst  not  on 

any  account  curtail  that." 

"  I  want  yon  to  see  W>ndhurst  at  its  best.     You 

have  no  idea  what  it  is  like  when  we  are  all  there, 
with  a  house  full  of  visitors.  We  hax-e  tennis  and 
all  sorts  of  games,  driving,  boating,  and  sh„otiu... 
i  tell  yon  Rivers,  yon  have  set  me  a  hard  task  to 
leave  It  all  for  years,  and  perhaps  for  life,  to  burv 
"lyself  ,„  the  heart  of  Africa  or  In<lia  " 
,  "  I  have  not  set  you  the  task.  Uv  suggestion 
KS  worth  nothing,  unless  another  voice  witTin  yon 
responds."  ^ 

Avi'  \r'  f""'^  ^^''^  '^  ^^^^'-^  ^»>'  trouble  lies. 
Whe  her  the  voiee  is  right  or  not,  I  cannot  say ; 
bnt  Its  call  is  the  same  as  yonrs." 

''Yon  must  consnlt  with  yonr  mother;  I  think 
her  spiritual  intuitions  are  finer  than  ours  " 

"  That  will  be  putting  her  to  a  sore  strait.  Our 
B^nghsh  mothers  have  a  very  strong  affection  for 
their  sons,  especially  only  sons." 


(•I  I 


262  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

Wlicn  Lionel  met  his  mother  she  chided  him 
for  loiteriiig^  so  long  at  Wyndhurst. 

"  You  must  blame  my  friend  Rivers,  I  believe 
he  would  exchange  all  the  splendid  future  that 
his  great  western  land  offers  him  and  become  an 
English  country  gentleman.  He  is  charmed  with 
Wyndhurst.  Every  moss-grown  stone  from  lintel 
to  tower  seemed  precious  to  him." 

Lady  Seymour  looked  pleased. 

"You  must  see  it  under  more  favorable  cir- 
cumstances. I  was  afraid  you  would  find  it  very 
lonely." 

"  I  would  rather  not  learn  to  like  the  place  any 
better.  It  will  be  safer  for  me  to  avoid  it  in 
future." 

"  We  cannot  permit  that.  I  hope  to  see  ytii 
very  frequently,  both  there  and  here  in  our  town 
residence.  Wyndhurst  is  home  ;  here  we  are  onh* 
in  residence.  I  have  a  fancy  I  should  like  to 
have   a   pleasant   family   group   there,  with    Mr.  ^ 

Rivers  to  read  to  us  as  we  sit  at  work.  My 
daughters  and  I  are  doing  some  tapestries  that 
our  friends  are  kind  enough  to  admire,  and  I 
should  like  to  work  in  some  figures  to  your  read- 
ing from  some  favorite  author.  Very  likely  we  | 
should  find  a  similarity  of  tastes  also." 

"  The  picture  you  draw  is  very  attractive.  It 
will  be  a  happy  fancy  with  me  to  believe  it  may 
one  day  become  a   reality,"  Alan  said,  with   a 


i 


WHITKCHAPKU 


263 


It 


sudden  lightincT  of  countenance.  Why  nii.oht  he 
not  sun  himself  in  tliis  woman's  rare  kindHness? 
Surely  he  could  remember  at  all  times  what  was 
due  hiuiself  and  another. 

The  reuiainder  of  the  day  passed  only  too 
swiftly.  There  was  music,  and  a  hh  of  choice 
readin.ir  too,  for  Lady  Se>inour  diviiierl  tliat  Alan 
had  exceptional  elocutionary  powers,  and  soon  they 
.vere  by  turns  lau«,diiucr  and  cryin.i,r  as  he  made 
selections  from  the  various  authors  with  whom  he 
was  intimately  acquainted,  and  whose  writin<^^s  he 
found  on  the  bookshelves  around  them. 

The  next  day  they  went  in  a  body  to  West- 
niinster  Abbey.  The  preacher,  who  was  a  hi-h 
dic^niitary  in  the  church,  was  equal  to  their  expcc- 
tation.  Alan  wondered  at  his  own  exceeding 
content  as  he  sat  by  Lucia  durincr  the  service^ 
accepting  her  help  sometimes  in  following  its 
intricacies. 

At  luncheon  Lionel  expressed  his  regret  that 
his  mother  was  not  well  enough  to  accompany 
them  on  their  rounds  to  mission  halls  and  sick- 
beds.    Lucia  looked  up  eao-erlv  : 

.Alay  I  not  go  in  your  stead,  mamma  ?     Air. 
Rivers  and  Lionel  will  take  good  care  of  me." 

^  Lionel  joined  his  entreaties,  but  Alan  was  silent, 
his  eyes  bent  steadily  on  his  plate;  he  was  afraid 
to  glance  in  her  direction,  lest  she  nn'ght  too 
plainly  read  his  wish.     He  did  not  know  her  lady- 


264 


THK   MASTER  OF  DHKl'LAWN 


-:| 


ill 


ship  was  waitiii^;^  for  him  to  speak.  At  last  she 
said  : 

"  If  Mr.  Rivers  does  not  think  it  a  trouble  to 
have  you.  Remember,  a  young  girl  cannot  make 
her  way  so  easily  as  the  gentlemen." 

"  We  will  promise  to  take  the  very  best  possible 
care  of  her  if  you  will  only  trust  her  with  us." 
Alan  tried  to  speak  lightly,  but  his  voice  trembled 
with  suppressed  eagerness  in  spite  of  himself. 

"  Then  it  is  settled,  little  sister.  Remember 
you  nmst  wear  the  very  plainest  hat  and  frock  in 
your  possession.  If  you  can  make  that  sacrifice 
we  shall  be  delighted  to  have  you." 

"  I  promise.  You  will  scarcely  know  me  when 
I  appear  dressed  for  the  occasion.  Mamma  some- 
times lets  me  accompany  her,  and  I  know  just 
what  to  wear,"  she  said  to  Alan,  half  fearing  that 
he  was  still  only  partially  willing  to  have  her  go. 

"  lyUcia  has  lu)lf  a  mind  to  join  the  Salvation 
Army  sometimes.  Indeed  she  puzzles  me  with 
her  changing  fancies.  One  day  she  is  a  pro- 
nounced aristocrat,  deeply  in  love  with  everything 
pertaining  to  the  peerage  and  the  old  nobility  ; 
the  next  thing  I  know  she  is  ready  to  go  out  as  a 
missionary,  or  to  join  the  amiy  workers  in  White- 
chapel.  She  really  keeps  us  in  a  ferment  with 
her  varying  moods,"  Lady  Seymour  said,  play- 
fully. 

Lucia  lifted  her  eves  in  times  to  catch  a  lumi- 


WinTl'CIIAl'KL 


265 


nous  olancc  fioiii  Alan.  Was  it  because  she  was 
somctinics  \villiii<r  to  give  herself  to  serve  others 
that  he  looked  at  her  in  that  way,  she  won- 
dered? 

Without  trying  to  defend  herself,  or  in  any  way 
disclaim  these  varying  moods,  she  presently  ex- 
cused herself,  and  went  to  prepare  for  their  round 
of  mission  halls  and  tenement  visitations. 

When  she  returned  in  a  serge  suit  that  fitted 
like  a  glove,  but  was  still  a  marvel  of  plainness, 
Alan  wondered  why  womankind  did  not  always 
dress  in  that  way.  lyionel  saw  his  intent  look, 
and  asked  : 

"What  do  you  think  of  our  little  missionary 
now?  When  she  gets  into  that  costume  I  am 
afraid  her  next  step  will  be  to  take  the  veil,  or 
enter  one  of  our  Church  of  England  sisterhoods. 
She  is  just  the  one  to  go  any  length  if  she  fancied 
duty  called  that  way." 

"If  my  memory  serves  me  it  was  only  a  few 
days  ago  you  told  me  that  nothing  short  of  a 
dukedom  would  satisfy  your  sister's  antiquarian 
tastes,"  Alan  remarked,  dryly.  He  was  not  look- 
ing at  lyucia  now,  but  was  very  intently  study ing 
a  famous  engraving  that  stood  framed  on  an  easel 
at  his  side, 

"  That  fancy  passes  away  whenever  she  comes 
up  to  London,  for  it  is  the  traditions  and  relics  of 
Wyndhurst  that  stir  it." 


2^.6 


TIIK    MASTER  OF   DKKPLAWN 


it  MM 


I 


Then  I  li()])c  she  will  reiuaiu  in  London," 
Alan  said,  inipnlsivcly. 

"Is  it  not  time  we  were  startino^?"  Lncia 
asked  witli  heii^htened  color.  Soniethinj^  in 
Alan's  manner  had  qniekened  her  ])nlsc,  and  she 
did  not  in  any  case  enjoy  being  the  topic  of  re- 
mark. 

"  We  will  order  the  cariia,L;e.  Yon  can  ride 
most  of  the  way,"  Lady  Seymonr  said. 

''Please,  mannna,  let  ns  take  a  tram  and  <^o 
like  every  day  workers.  It  seems  like  playing  at 
mission  work  to  <;o  in  that  style,"  Lncia  pleaded, 
for  the  time  for^eltin.L'^  her  recent  shyness. 

"Let  me  add  m\  entreaties  also,"  Alan  nr^cd. 
There  was  somethini^-  very  deli^htfnl  in  the  pros- 
pect of  starting  ont  like  common  folk,  hailing  a 
street  car,  and  keeping  Lncia  nnder  his  care  all 
the  rest  of  the  day. 

"Jnst  as  yon  please,"  her  huhship  said,  gra- 
cionsly  ;  "hnt  I  am  snre  yon  wonld  be  more  com- 
fortable in  onr  own  carriage." 

"  I  do  not  feel  one  bit  like  a  self-denv.  mission 
worker  this  afternoon,"  Alan  said,  as  they  walked 
I  i>kly  along  the  aristocratic  street  a  few  moments 
later. 

"  lUii  we  shall  do  jnst  as  mnch  good  to  those  we 
go  among  as  if  we  felt  it  a  very  heavy  cross.  I  am 
snre  if  I  lived  in  an  attic,  and  was  sick  and  alone, 
1  shonld  so  mnch  prefer  bright,  jo)ons  faces  to 


i 


M 


WHITKCIIAPKL  2^)7 

look  ill  at  inc  occasionally,  than  people  who  catuc 
just  because  their  conscience  drove  theiu  there." 
Lucia  seemed  to  have  cau«;ht  the  infrction  of 
Alan's  fine  spirits. 

"It  does  seem  a  ])ity  for  such  a  liapi)y  creature 
to  be  wasted  on  a  duke,  and  spend  her  leisure 
time  studyiujL^  up  his  ancestors,"  Lionel  said,  mis- 
chievously, as  he  looked  down  into  the  smiling, 
happy  face  of  his  sister. 

"What  do  you  mean,  Lionel?  I  am  not  goincr 
to  marry  aii>l)ody.  Please  do  not  be<;iii  to  tease, 
this  perfect  day,"  she  pleaded,  <;eritly. 

Alan  forgave  Lionel  on  the  spot,  for  having 
drawn  that  assurance  from  his  si>ter. 

They  soon  entered  a  car,  which  chanced  to  be 
a  crowded  one.  Someone  moved  and  gave  Lucia 
a  seat,  while  Alan  stood  guard  over  her,  (piite  for- 
getting Lionel,  who  was  standing  b\-  rather  for- 
lornly. 

y\rrived  at  the  end  of  their  jouriie\-  1)\  the  car, 
they  i)lunged  at  once  into  the  (kplhs,  climbing 
rotten  staircases,  going  down  into  gloonn-  cellars, 
and  now  and  again  finding  a  nio'.nent's  relief  in 
some  more  liumani/ed  abode,  where  respectable 
l)overty  found  shelter;  but  every  place  they  en- 
tered Lucia  had  visited  before,  and  was  welcomed 
by  the  poor  creatures  in  a  way  that  cpiite  amazed 
Alan,  who  was  unused  to  such  demonstrations 
from  the   people  in  the  districts  he  had   visited. 


^^51: 


i 


i^ 


268  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


"Why  do  they  all  seem  so  glad  to  see  you?" 
he  asked. 

Lionel  answered  for  her. 

*'They  have  keen  instincts,  if  nothino;  else,  and 
they  know  she  loves  them  and  pities  them;  be- 
sides, she  has  been  coming  here  since  she  was  a 
child.  Our  mother  had  very  peculiar  ideas  about 
II  j'  the  training  of  her  children." 

"Has  your  coming  done  them  much  good?  I 
noticed  the  whisky  bottle  in  a  good  man\-  places." 
He  spoke  bluntly,  but  he  too  was  in  earnest  about 
helping  them,  and  had  his  peculiar  ideas. 

"I  sometimes  tell  mamma  that  it  is  little  use 
I  helping  them,  for  the  money  we  give  very  often 

goes  for  gin  ;  but  what  can  we  do?"  IvUcia  asked, 
helplessly. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  try  my  plan.  I  never  give 
such  people  a  cent  of  nicv-y,  except  in  the  shape 
of  food  or  clothing,  but  I  try  other  methods." 

"  What  are  they  ?  Pray  advise  us  to  some  better 
plans  than  we  have  yet  tried.  I  get  sadly  low- 
sj^irited  after  two  or  three  hours  spent  here,"  Lucia 
said,  wearily. 

''We  will  drop  into  the  next  mission  chapel 
and  rest.  I  promised  your  mother  to  take  care  of 
you,  and  I  fear  I  am  not  keeping  my  promise," 
Alan  said,  a  little  ruefully. 

They  soon  found  seats  in  a  quiet  corner  of  a 
great,  gloomy  church  that  had  stood  facing  the 


WHITI'XHAPKI.  269 

sill  and  misery  of  this  hui^e  city  for  at  least  two 
centuries,  and  then  Lucia  repeated  her  request. 

AUiu  explained  his  methods  fully. 

"  Let  us  coax  maninia  to  try  the  same  plan  at 
Wyndhurst,"  she  exclaimed,  eao^erly. 

Lionel  smiled.  "What  will  our  neighbors 
say?"  he  asked. 

''They  can  only  say  it  is  a  new  fad  of  L:idy 
Seymour.  You  know  people  are  continually  say- 
ing that,  and  yet  everybody  admires  and  loves 
her." 

"And  if  she  did  something  that  her  conscience 
commanded,  which  they  did  not  admire,  what 
then?"  Alan  asked,  soberly. 

"  I  think  mamma  is  brave  enough  to  dare  public 
opinion  in  order  to  be  true  to  principle." 

They  sat  in  silence  for  some  time.  Then  a 
verger  came  to  prepare  the  church  for  even-song, 
and  the  young  people  withdrew. 

'' Wliat  shall  we  do  next?"  Lionel  asked. 

"Shall  we  not  go  to  a  mission  service  some- 
wliere?  We  need  not  make  any  more  visits  to- 
day. I  have  a  fancy  for  sitting  quietly  and  listen- 
ing to  you  talking  to  our  people,"  Lucia  said,  with 
a  glance  specially  directed  to  Alan.  LioncPs  de- 
scription of  that  service  weeks  ago,  when  Alan 
was  talking  to  the  crowd  in  one  of  the  mission 
halls,  was  still  fresh  in  her  memory. 

"Ladies  are  permitted  the  same  privileges  there 


. 


270 


THK    MASTER   OK   DKHI'LAWN 


witli  ourselves.  In  that  respect  mission  work  is 
a  lonj;-  way  nearer  a  perfected  and  jnst  civilization 
than  the  must  decorons  services.  I  too  have  a 
stron.i;  desire  to  hear  a  certain  lady  worker  in  these 
parts  talk  to  the  people."  Alan  looked  down  at 
her  for  an  instant.  With  a  qnick  blnsh  and 
nervons  lan<':li  she  said  : 

"  I  am  not  clever  like  yonr  brilliant  American 
women.  They  set  ns  a  very  beantifnl  example, 
bnt  the  most  of  ns  are  either  too  slow  or  too  dnll 
to  imitate  them." 

"  If  yon  do  not  make  the  attempt  yon  will 
never  know  what  brilliant  possibilities  of  speech 
may  be  slumbering  within  yon." 

They  reached  a  mission  hall  where  an  nnkcmpt 
crowd  was  p;-atliering.  Alan  had  often  been  tliere 
before,  and  some  of  the  poor  crentnres  were  quick 
to  recoijnize  him,  since  several  full  and  most  en- 
joyable dinners  had  fallen  to  them  throuj^h  his 
generosity.  The  handshakings  were  hearty — per- 
haps a  dinner  might  be  provided  that  very  night. 
Some  of  them  were  in  sore  need  of  it.  The 
leader  at  once  recognized  the  disUngnished  visit- 
ors and  pressed  anxiously  forward.  The  speakers 
were  few  that  day  and  of  inferior  quality  ;  if  these 
young  men  could  be  pressed  into  the  service,  wdiat 
had  promised  to  be  a  very  indilTerent  meeting 
might  prove  an  unusual  snccess. 

lyucia  gratefully  accepted  the  invitation  to  pre- 


wnrnxHAPHK 


271 


side  at  the  organ.  Her  nerves  had  been  in  a 
tremor  ever  sinee  Alan  suggested  that  she  shonld 
give  an  address.  She  had  Ibnnd  that  he  possessed 
a  remarkable  facnlty  for  enforeing  obedience  to 
his  behests — there  was  no  knowing  what  she 
might  be  compelled  to  do  if  he  said  she  had  to 
address  that  blear-eyed,  sodden  crowd  of  nun  and 
W(jnien,  but  she  could  not  well  be  musician  and 
preacher  too.  He  was  standing  near  her  keenly 
noting  the  fitful  paling  and  flushing  of  the  deli- 
cate face,  afraid  that  they  were  overtaxing  her 
strength,  and  yet  dreading  to  break  the  spell  of 
this  dear  companionship  by  returning  to  her 
lionie. 

"  Are  you  very  tired  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  looked  up  for  an  instant,  but  her  eves  sud- 
denly dropped  beneath  the  expression  in  his  which 
.she  scarcely  interpreted. 

"  I  am  not  tired,  onl}-  afraid  }ou  will  make  me 
speak  to  them." 

"  I  cannot  make  you  unless  you  yourself  are 
first  willing." 

"  If  you  told  me  to  do  so,  I  think  I  .should  have 
to  obey.  That  is  one  of  your  characteristics,  to 
enforce  obedience." 

"If  so,  I  never  knew  it;  but  I  should  like  to 

experiment "     He  paused  and  did  not  finish 

what  he  was  saying. 

The  meeting  began.     A  hymn  was  given  out, 


t' 


272 


TIIK    MASTER  OI<    DI.KPI.AWX 


!  1' 


m\ 


'i't 

■\  ' 

■■  1 
ill' 

iii! 


and  as  T^ncia  sanc^  to  her  own  acconip:uiinient,  it 
seemed  as  if  the  very  bieathinj;  was  Inishcd  tliat 
not  a  note  nii<;lit  be  lost.  Her  excitement  lent  a 
pathos  and  j^ower  to  her  sino;inor  that  snrprised 
even  Lionel,  who  had  never  heard  her  sing  so  ex- 
qnisitely  to  the  most  critical  and  ciiltnred  andi- 
enccs  in  the  drawing-rooms  in  Mayfair,  and  the 
keynote  was  strnck  for  the  meeting  that  made  it 
one  of  the  hest  they  had  c\er  attended. 

Alan  spoke  after  the  leader  had  nttered  a  .short 
prayer  and  Lncia  had  again  ponred  forth  her  son! 
in  glorions  soni,^  He  too,  had  been  lifted  by  it 
to  a  higher  level  than  he  had  ever  reached  before 
when  addressing  any  company,  cnltnred  or  tlie 
reverse.  Me  .saw  in  the  bowed  heads  before  him 
and  in  the  weeping  faces  of  those  nnnsed  to  tears, 
that  he  was  taking  strong  hold  on  his  liearers. 
Indeed,  for  the  time  he  forgot  all  save  those  whom 
he  was  .seeking  to  help.  When  he  had  cea.sed 
speaking,  he  was  amazed  to  find  that  others  be- 
sides the  crowd  before  him  had  been  moved  to 
tears.  He  looked  at  Lncia.  vShe  was  finding  it 
difTicnlt  to  snbdne  her  emotion  snOiciently  to  be 
able  to  lead  the  singing. 

The  leader  hesitated.  Perhaps  now  wonkl  be 
the  time  to  test  the  depth  of  the  impression. 
Stepping  to  the  front  of  the  platform  he  nrged  all 
who  were  willing  to  begin  then  and  there  to 
live  a  different  life,  a  more  rational  and  pnrer,  to 


I 


'1'Ik'  Mh.^Ihi-  III'  It.fplawn. 

"  r.iiiia  aniiiri  |i<iiireil  fm  th  hor  soul  iti  gldrioiis  -mng. 


Page  2Ti. 


1i' 

11 


i 


HI     I    I 


WIIITKCIIAPEL  2-^ 

come  forward  and  kneel  down  in  tlic  front  scats. 
(3ne  after  another  rose  and  stumbled  forward. 
Lncia  turned  to  the  organ,  and  strikin-  a  few 
opening  bars,  bco;an  to  sing  with  sweet  patlios : 

"  There  were  ninety  an'l  nine  that  safely  lay, 
In  the  shelter  of  the  fold." 

When  she  ceased  singing  nearly  half  the  con- 
gregation were  on  their  knees,  Lionel  and  the 
others  from  the  platform  busy  beside  them  talk- 
ing and  praying,  while  sobs  and  groans  attested 
to  the  depth  of  conviction  that  had  settled  on 
hitherto  stony  hearts.  When  the  meeting  was 
over  and  they  were  walking  down  the  narrow, 
filthy  street,  Lionel  said,  enthusiastically  : 

"  I  believe  that  Lncia  and  you  could  do  more  to 
revolutionize  this  place,  if  you  came  here  and 
worked  together,  than  any  score  of  workers  com- 
bined, that  are  now  on  the  ground.  I  tell  you 
splendid  gifts  will  tell  among  all  sorts  and  condi- 
tions of  men." 

"  I  think  I  should  like  it  better  than  marrying 
your  duke,"  Lucia  said,  mischievously,  trying  to 
make  light  of  Lionel's  new  enthusiasm,  aUhJli-h 
her  voice  was  still  tremulous  with  strong  emotion. 

''Oh,  it  will  never  do  to  let  you  marry  any  one 
after  this.  You  have  a  vocation  altogether  difTer- 
ent  from  wifehood.  That  would  be  a  sad  waste 
of  useful  gifts." 


s 


i 


27\ 


TIIK    MASTlvR   OK    DKI'l'I.AWN 


^ 


I  >i 


u  'r 


Then  )oti  have  decided  I  am  to  become  a 
Salvationist?" 

"I  have  not  decided  anything;,  bnt  that  the 
Lord  will  one  day  call  yon  to  acconnt  if  yon  don't 
throw  yonrself  heart  and  sonl  into  this  work. 
Why,  those  few  words  yon  said  near  the  close  sent 
a  thrill  thron«;h  the  dnllest  heart  there;  I  had  no 
idea  my  little  sister  had  snch  possibilities  hidden 
nnder  this  shy  exterior." 

For  Lncia  had  spoken.  Men  and  women  in  the 
andience,  in  broken  sentences,  had  been  tellin^j 
what  they  were  and  what,  God  helpintr  them,  they 
wanted  to  be,  when  Alan,  leaninj^  toward  her, 
had  said:  ''Won't  you  say  a  few  words  to  these 
women  ?  Most  of  them  know  who  yon  are,  and 
what  you  say  will  have  more  effect  than  all  onr 
preachini^." 

She  rose  at  once,  and  it  was  what  she  said  that 
so  wakened  her  brother's  enthusiasm. 

Alan  was  silent  most  of  the  way  home.  This 
afternoon's  service  had  suddenly  opened  new  paths 
into  the  distance,  endin<^-  only  with  life.  Mi^ht 
this  not  be  the  kind  of  work  God  asked  of  him, 
to  go  down  into  the  lowest  depths  seekinj^  for 
gems  for  the  Redeemer's  crown?  He  was  so  far 
indifTcrent  to  the  ambitions  of  life  now,  that  if  the 
choice  were  left  to  him  to  work  among  the  aristo- 
crats of  the  West  Knd  of  London,  in  those  superb 
churclRS  where  the  beauty  and  wisdom  of  Kng- 


I 


wniTi<:cnAPKL 


-'75 


land  con^^rcjT^ate,  or  in  the  malodorous  precincts 
of  Wliitechapel,  lie  would  not  choose,  Icavinj^ 
tliat  decision,  as  every  other  that  had  to  do  with 
other  lives  than  his  own,  in  the  hands  of  tlie  One 
whose  wisdom  is  nnerrinj;. 

"  I  wish  you  could  transfer  yourself  from 
America  to  London,"  Lionel  said. 

"My  dear  boy,  we  have  just  as  much  need  of 
workers  in  our  great  cities  in  America  as  you 
have  here.  What  we  all  need  is  a  fuller  consecra- 
tion." 

Wiien  they  met  Lady  Seymour  at  dinner  that 
eveninj^,  Lionel  gave  a  grai)hic  description  of 
their  afternoon's  work,  ending  witli  the  crowning 
success  in  the  mission  hall. 

"  My  dear  child,"  Lady  Seymour  said,  her  eyes 
bright  with  tears,  ''that  charms  nic  more  than 
the  highest  social   triinnphs  that  you  could  win." 

''  IJut,  mamma,  Lionel  greatly  ex;iggerates.  It 
was  only  a  few  very  simple  words  that  I  spoke. 
No  one  could  help  saying  something  after  Mr. 
Rivers'  wonderful  address.  I  wish  so  much  that 
you  could  have  heard  it." 

"Perhaps  we  had  better  postpone  the  discus- 
sion of  our  oratorical  efforts  to  some  future  time." 
Alan  spoke  impulsively,  and  later,  as  he  was 
standing  near  Lucia,  somewhat  apart  from  the 
rest,  he  asked  her  forgiveness  for  any  apparent 
discourtesy  in  his  remarks.     ''  I  have  such  a  hor- 


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O: 


-» 


/: 


°>  > 


'W.S 


o 


7 


/A 


4>  ^ 


%"■ 


"ib^ 


L<P 


f       ^0 


^ 


b. 


276 


THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


ror  of  taking  credit  for  any  of  these  efforts  to 
myself.  I  want  to  forget  my  own  individuality 
in  any  work  I  may  do." 

Lucia  looked  up  sympathetically. 

"  I  think  you  need  never  ask  my  forgiveness 
for  anything  you  may  say.  I  shall  always  know 
you  are  right  even  if  I  do  not  quite  comprehend 
your  meaning.  But  this  evening  I  quite  sympa- 
thized with  )ou  after  the  very  exaggerated  way 
Lionel  spoke  about  myself." 

''  I  am  afraid  if  we  discuss  that  subject  again  I 
may  offend  as  much  as  your  brother.  I  felt  the 
charm  of  your  address  more  than  any  one  there, 
I  am  certain." 

She  looked  somewhat  surprised. 

"  I  do  not  understand  why  anything  I  said 
should  touch  you.  It  was  only  the  poor,  sinful 
creatures  that  I  thought  to  help." 

He  looked  at  her  a  moment  very  intently,  then 
glancing  at  Lady  Seymour,  who  was  coming 
toward  them,  he  said,  quietly : 

"  I  shall  hope  to  hear  you  talk  to  my  boys  this 
summer.  I  am  expecting  great  things  from  that 
promised  visit." 

"  We  are  also  looking  forward  with  great  pleas- 
ure to  our  American  trip.  It  seems  hard  that 
some  of  us  should  have  so  many  delightful  expe- 
riences in  this  world,  and  others  none  at  all.  1 
try  to  believe  that  there  is  a  law  of  compensation 


I 


WHITECHAPEI. 


2/7 


ninning  tlirongli  all  human  experience,  and  that, 
underlying  all  apparent  joy  or  misery,  there  are 
peaceful  spots  in  every  heart.  '  Not  one  quite 
hapi^y,  no,  not  one,'  your  Ivongfellow  says.  But 
I  say  to  myself,  not  one  quite  wretched,  no,  not 
one,  save  the  utterly  depraved— they  must,  of  ne- 
cessity, be  unhappy,  whether  in  a  palace  or  the 
worst  cellar  in  Wliitechapel." 

"  Your  daughter  takes  the  griefs  of  her  fellow- 
creatures  very  seriously,"  Alan  said,  turning  to 
Lady  Seymour,  who  had  joined  them. 

"Yes,  but  she  takes  their  pleasures  so  joyously 
1  think  she  gets  more  good  than  ill  from  making 
her  heart  a  thoroughfare  for  the  friendless,  and 
indeed,  all  who  come  within  her  horizons.  I 
assure  you,  they  are  very  wide." 

''How  could  I  help  it,  mamma,  being  your 
daughter  ?  " 

"  My  children  are  perpetually  turuino  the  tables 
upon  me  whenever  I  nienti  .n  their  good  qualities  ; 
but  a  truce  to  that  now.  Sir  Thomas  has  bidden 
me  ask  Mr.  Rivers  to  give  us  a  reading.  He 
wishes  to  hear  you  read  from  some  of  your  own 
American  poets.  I  believe  he  has  Tlianatopsis 
turned  down  for  you  to  begin  with." 

Alan  complied  at  once,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  evening  was  spent  in  reading  selections  from 
the  poets  of  the  nineteenth  century,  with  discus- 
sion, of  their  comparative  merits. 


/ 


I 


1 1 


ii:  :  ii 


CHAPTER  XXII 


IN  SUMMER  TIME 


EARLY  in  the  week  Alan  and  Lionel  left 
for  Qneenstown  to  take  the  steamer  for 
America. 

The  season  being-  favorable,  they  had  a  fine  trip 
across  the  ocean.  The  tide  of  travel  among 
saloon  passengers  being  mainly  eastward  at  that 
season,  they  were  not  inconvenienced  by  the 
throngs  that,  later  on,  make  sailing  to  the  west 
anything  but  a  pleasure  to  those  who  do  not  enjoy 
being  closely  herded  with  a  crowd  of  indifferent 
strangers. 

On  their  arrival  they  proceeded  at  once  to 
Deeplawn.  Mrs.  Dixon  had  been  apprised  of  the 
coming  of  a  distinguished  visitor,  and  great  prep- 
arations had  been  made,  while  all  the  boys  were 
pressed  into  the  service  to  put  the  entire  premises 
in  most  perfect  order.  Among  the  score  of  youths 
now  under  Alan's  care,  there  were  only  some  half- 
dozen  of  the  original  thirteen.  Several  of  the 
boys  were  studying  for  a  higher  kind  of  work 
than  that  of  farm  laborers,  while  others  stoutly 
preferred  tli'.  abundant  elbow-room  of  farm  work 
to  the  crowded  foothold  brain-workers  of  average 
278 


"f.  T ' 


IN   SUMMER   TIME 


2/9 


left 
r  for 

e  trip 
mong 
,t  that 
y  the 
^  west 
;  enjoy 
fferent 

nee  to 
i  of  the 
it  prep- 
ys  were 
remises 
■  yonths 
ne  half- 

of   the 
)f  work 

stoutly 
rni  work 

average 


ability  find  anywhere  at  the  present  da}'.  The 
youths  who  preferred  farm  work  were,  without 
exception,  of  Irish  extraction,  and  it  devolved  on 
them  to  contribute  largely  to  the  support  of  the 
entire  company. 

Alan,  as  far  as  was  possible,  wished  to  make  this 
experiment  self-supporting,  and  to  this  end  he  had 
large  tracts  of  waste  land  reclaimed  and  brought 
into  profitable  cultivation.  During  the  vacations 
the  entire  force  of  boys  were  expected  to  assist. 
An  experienced  man  took  charge  and  mapped  out 
the  work.  The  boys  entered  into  it,  for  the  most 
part,  with  great  heartiness,  and  those  summer  ex- 
peditions into  the  woods,  felling  trees  and  piling 
the  great  logs  in  heaps  for  the  autunrn  burning, 
were  seasons  of  genuine  merriment  and  healthful 
enjoyment. 

The  man  who  had  them  in  charge  had  himself 
been  on  the  Deeplawn  estate  from  childhood,  and 
took  quite  as  much  interest  in  all  that  pertained 
to  it  as  did  the  rightful  owner.  James  Longman, 
for  that  was  his  name,  was  quite  an  unconscious 
hero.  He  was  so  thoroughly  honest,  his  name 
was  already,  at  middle  age,  becoming  a  synonym 
for  honesty.  He  really  did  not  seem  to  study  his 
own  dignity  any  more  than  the  huge  Clydesdales, 
that  found  in  him  a  perfect  master.  For  every  one, 
man,  woman,  or  child,  of  whatever  degree  socially, 
he  had  the  same  reverential  bearing,  as  if  human- 


m 


^80 


THE   MASTER  OF   DKEPLAWN 


I       i 


I 


1  i 


ity  under  every  circumstance  was  sometliing  to 
honor. 

He  was  not  a  stickler  for  obedience,  yet  the 
boys  who  worked  under  him  never  seemed  to 
think  of  disobeying-.  Alan  regarded  him  ahnost 
as  a  ^  tlier,  and  Deeplawn,  and  all  that  pertained 
to  it,  was  gradually  coming  under  his  sole  charge. 
A  loud  or  angry  word  never  fell  from  his  lips, 
but  when  his  slow  tempei  was  aroused  by  some 
exceeding  offense,  the  lad  wl'.o  had  incurred  his 
displeasure  was  sure  to  remember  the  occasion. 

He  helped  the  lads  to  select  their  own  holdings, 
for  to  each  who  chose  to  stay  at  Deeplawn  until 
his  majority,  a  portion  of  land  was  given  suffi- 
cient to  make  him  a  home.  Longman  was  au- 
thorized to  purchase  all  available  lands  that  were 
in  the  market,  and  so  judiciously  were  the  invest- 
ments made  and  the  land  cultivated,  that  already 
the  experiment  had  ceased  to  be  a  risk. 

If  Alan  had  been  charmed  with  the  treasures 
and  memories  connected  with  Wyndhurst,  I^ionel 
was  no  less  so  with  deeplawn.  The  boys  had 
come  ^i  masse  to  the  station  to  meet  Alan,  headed 
by  Mike,  who  had  come  to  Deeplawn  for  the  oc- 
casion. Anselmo  was  also  there,  and  Jacob  ]\Io- 
lensky  and  Billy  Spenser  and  Blinders,  for  he  had 
found  his  way  to  the  country  with  all  the  others ; 
but  they  did  not  present  the  same  appearance  as 
when  first  we  were  introduced  to  them. 


IN  SUMMER  TIME 


281 


to 


Those  who  were  with  Alan  at  the  first  were 
now  grown  men,  or  nearly  snch.  ]\Iike  was  a 
fine-looking  young  fellow,  with  an  impulsive, 
open-hearted  expression  on  his  mobile  fiice.  He 
was  quite  elaborately  dressed,  even  to  brown  kids 
and  white  cravat,  and  seemed  perfectly  conscious 
of  the  fact.  Indeed,  each  one  had  strained  every 
nerve  to  present  a  good  appearance  for  Mr.  Rivers' 
home-coming,  since  they  felt  perfectly  certain 
that  it  rested  mainly  with  them  to  reflect  credit 
on  him  before  his  foreion  visitor. 

Alan  and  lyionel  were  confronted  with  quite  a 
formidable  array  when  they  stepped  off  the  car. 
Nearly  every  tenant  at  Deeplawn  was  there  to 
welcome  the  young  master.  The  score  and  more 
of  representatives  from  the  city,  headed  b\^  Long- 
man, beaming  approval  from  his  superior  height, 
were  all  elbowing  their  way  to  the  front.  A  goodly 
number  of  women  and  children  formed  the  rear 
of  the  company. 

I^ionel  stood  in  considerable  mystification  watch- 
ing the  eager  company  thronging  around  his 
friend,  and  wondered  if  this  were  a  usual  custom 
among  Americans.  He  had  supposed  it  was 
mainly  an  English  usage,  the  welcoming  home 
of  the  heir  on  his  majority,  but  that  period  in  his 
friend's  life  was  some  time  past.  It  ceitainlv 
could  only  be  an  expression  of  strong  affection 
between  employer  and  employed. 


282 


THE   MASTKR   OF   DEEPLAWN 


>     i 


I 


The  handshakings  ended,  Alan  summoned  his 
friend  and  together  they  entered  the  carriage 
awaiting  tliem.  At  the  Deeplawn  gates  they 
found  a  triumphal  arch  erected,  the  work  of  the 
boys  who  had  known  of  similar  ornamentation  for 
grand  processions  or  in  honor  of  distinguished 
guests,  usually  foreign  royalties. 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  was  not  expecting  such  an 
ovation.  It  certainly  seems  as  though  I  had  found 
the  key  to  my  boys'  hearts,  or  they  would  not  go 
to  such  trouble  in  my  honor,"  Alan  said,  with 
considerable  feeling. 

"  Is  it  the  work  of  your  boys  from  the  slums?" 
Lionel  asked,  with  some  surprise. 

"Certainly.  Did  you  not  see  them,  those 
young  fellows  gotten  up  with  such  care  ? — a  tall, 
broad-shouldered  fellow  heading  the  ranks?" 

"Yes,  I  saw  them,  but  it  did  not  occur  to  me 
those  were  your  waifs  and  strays." 

"  I  shall  make  a  formal  presentation  when  we 
reach  home.  You  will  be  surprised  to  see  what 
well-spoken  youth  they  are.  My  friends  tell  me 
they  all  try  to  imitate  my  way  of  speaking — pray 
do  not  think  that  is  why  they  speak  well ;  but  if 
you  had  heard  them  five  or  six  years  ago,  their 
slang  and  broken  English,  you  would  understand 
better  what  imitative  creatures  they  are  when 
their  minds  are  set  on  improving  themselves." 

A   little   later   the   boys   came   filing  into  the 


I 


IN  SUMMER  TIME 


283 


,?" 


the 


library,  as  respectable  looking  youths  as  one  might 
expect  to  see  in  a  boys'  academy,  and  as  well  con- 
ducted. IVIike  was  their  principal  speaker,  and  very 
well  he  filled  the  office,  in  an  easy  but  respectful 
way  telling  all  the  news  that  Alan  would  be  likely 
to  want,  and  arranging  excursions  to  the  different 
points  on  the  estate  where  extensive  alterations 
had  of  late  been  made.  He  had  obtained  a  few 
holidays  on  purpose  to  be  with  Alan  and,  like  the 
others,  was  prepared  to  enjoy  them  to  the  utmost. 

Ivionel  was  a  most  interested  spectator.  Cer- 
tainly here  was  something  quite  beyond  Alan's 
modest  representations  of  his  work  for  boy:.  He 
resolved  to  introduce  something  of  the  kind  at 
Wynd  hurst  that  very  autumn.  Perhaps  God 
might  intend  that  work  for  him  rather  than  ban- 
ishment from  the  home  and  friends  he  loved  so 
well.  Others  too,  among  the  great  landed  gentry 
and  aristocracy  might  be  induced  to  work  in  the 
same  way. 

How  soon  England  might  be  revolutionized  if 
men  of  weaLh  would  turn  their  attention  thereto  ! 
In  a  little  while  they  might  become  just  as  much 
interested  as  in  their  present  pursuits,  experi- 
encing noble  rivalries  in  rescuing  the  largest  num- 
ber of  waifs  and  strays,  and  building  them  into 
noble  men  and  women.  Alan  certainly  found 
more  solid  pleasure  in  these  boys,  their  ambitions, 
successes,  and  general  growth,  than  any  landed 


'W 


I 

1 

t 

284 


THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


owner  of  the  fine  preserves  li^  knew.  When  the 
boys  decorously  withdrew,  L^ionel  plunged  at 
once  into  his  plans. 

"  My  mother,  I  am  sure,  will  go  into  it  heart 
and  soul,  and  whatever  she  suggests  my  fatlier 
hastens  to  put  in  practice,  no  matter  how  Quixotic 
her  scheme  may  appear  to  the  rest  of  us.  I  want 
you  to  invite  every  one  of  your  boys  and  young 
men  here  when  she  comes,  and  make  the  best 
possible  showing.  If  we  get  her  enthusiastic, 
there  is  no  knowing  where  it  may  end.  Why, 
my  dear  fellow,  you  may  accomplish  more  for  the 
submerged  of  London,  through  your  example, 
than  almost  any  man  in  England,  perhaps  except- 
ing three  or  four,  Miiller,  Bernardo,  Stephenson, 
and  a  few  like-minded." 

"  I  am  not  so  enthusiastic  as  you  are ;  indeed, 
I  try  not  to  think  about  possibilities,  but  practi- 
calities. You  will  find  very  few  of  the  country 
squires,  or  landed  gentry,  ready  to  try  the  experi- 
ment with  even  half  a  dozen  pauper  boys." 

"  You  do  not  know  what  persuasive  powers  my 
mother  possesses.  We  will  get  our  establishment 
well  started  at  Wyndhurst,  Lucia  will  design 
some  picturesque  costume  for  them,  and  then  my 
mother  will  invite  some  of  her  dear  friends,  be- 
ginning probably  with  some  wealt!iy  nobodies 
who  will  be  thankful  to  do  anything  Lady  Sey- 
mour suggests,  and  then  on  among  her  dear  five 


IN  SUMMER  TIME  285 

hundred  friends,  for  I  think  she  must  have  that 
many  ready  to  do  her  bidding  to  any  reasonable 
extent,  and  so  the  work  will  grow." 

"  I  will  be  glad  if  your  prophecies  have  even  a 
partial  fulfillment." 

"And  now  you  will  no  doubt  admit  that  I  may 
have  a  very  useful  career  before  me,  without  beine 
obliged  to  leave  my  native  land,"  Lionel  said, 
lightly. 

"I  most  assuredly  will.  We  need  home  mis- 
sionaries quite  as  much  as  foreign,  and  I  cannot 
conceive  any  work  with  grander  possibilities  than 
that  you  have  just  been  mapping  out." 

"  That  is  a  relief,  I  can  assure  you.  I  doubt  if 
the  Lord  ever  calls  any  one  to  some  special  mis- 
sion without  giving  him  special  delight  in  his 
appointed  work,  and  I  certainly  did  not  have  that 
in  the  mission  you  proposed." 

"  I  only  want  that  you  should  engage  heartily 
in  some  work.  It  was  dilettanteism  in  reliirion 
that  I  was  trying  to  get  you  to  avoid  ;  we  have 
too  much  of  that  in  the  churches  for  their  own 
prosperity  or  the  world's  good." 

After  dinner  the  young  men  went  to  see  the 
boys  in  their  quarters.  Several  cottages  had  been 
appropriated  to  their  use,  and  the  boys  did  all  their 
own  work,  taking  week  about  in  the  kitchen.  A 
generous  rivalry  was  fostered  among  them,  encour- 
aged by  James  Longman,  as  to  who  should  prove 


, 


illll  I 


IJl 


286  run   MASTER   OF    DKKPLAWN 

the  best  housekeeper.  Small  prizes  were  awankd 
the  happ)'  )oiitlis  who  developed  a  latent  talent 
for  tidiness  and  thrift.  The  eottaj^es  now  were 
scoured  to  an  exquisite  degree  of  eleanliness. 

The  efforts  at  ornamentation  were  oceasionally 
ludicrous  and  even  grotesque.  The  artistic  Italian 
and  the  heavy  German  tastes  at  war  with  Irish 
and  American,  sometimes  produced  strange  com- 
binations, but  Alan  was  pleased  with  it  all  and 
was  ready  to  reward  every  one  alike.  He  went 
deeper  than  the  mere  disposal  of  chromos,  vases, 
home-made  brackets,  and  the  like.  Underneath 
all  this  he  saw  the  love  of  beauty  and  of  home 
budding  in  the  youtli^ul  hearts,  some  day  to  blos- 
som ont  in  brown-stone  fronts,  possibly,  velvet 
carpets  and  co.stly  pictures,  for  no  one  could  tell 
what  sncce.sses  might  be  waiting  in  the  future  for 
some  of  the  lads  preparing  for  lives  of  usefulness 
in  these  cottages. 

It  was  quite  dark  before  they  had  completed  the 
survey  of  the  nearest  cottages,  Lionel  went 
home  to  dream  all  night  of  just  such  homes 
springing  like  magic  all  over  England,  for  boys 
and  for  girls  too,  for  he,  with  his  mother's  love  for 
girls  as  well  as  boys  fresh  upon  him,  wanted  to 
see  them,  equally  with  their  brothers,  provided 
with  these  opportunities  to  rise. 

The  follov/ing  day  he  wrote  many  pages  to  his 
mother  filled  with  this  new  project,  and  urging 


IN   SU.M.MICR    TIMI'; 


287 


her  to  come  over  at  once  if  the  doetors  would 
permit. 

"  You  can  rest  and  build  up  here  better  tliau  at 
houie,  for  the  air  is  fairly  intoxieatiug.  I  do  uot 
wonder  the  Americans  are  so  clever,  having  such 
an  atmosphere  and  such  a  wonderful  country.  I 
am  curious  to  know  what  this  country  will  be  five 
hundred  or  a  thousand  years  hence,  if  it  .goes  on 
developing  at  the  present  rate.  I  only  know  the 
lost  Eden  might  be  pretty  well  restored,  save  for 
the  item  death,  if  all   mankind  w^ere  like  Alan 

Rivers.     I  tell  you,  mother,  he  is  a  hero " 

and  then  followed  a  glowing  rhapsody  that  would 
have  disconcerted  Alan  had  he  seen  it.  But  Alan 
did  not  know  what  his  friend  was  putting  on 
paper,  as  he  went  about  with  Longman,  examin- 
ing things  with  the  keen,  observing  eye  of  the 
master  who  wanted  every  bit  of  property  to  yield 
its  full  value. 

They  rested  a  few  days  at  Deeplawn,  and  then 
started  on  their  pedestrian  tour.  Lionel  had  told 
Alan  that  he  had  been  uroing  his  mother  to  come 
at  once,  and  Alan  was  anxious  that  his  friend 
should  first  see  more  of  the  country  he  was  dis- 
posed to  admire  so  much.  They  took  short  rail- 
way journeys  from  one  point  to  another  over  the 
parts  that  had  seemingly  been  slighted  in  the 
work  of  creation,  and  in  this  way  condensed  the 
beauties  of  the  scenery.     They  had  soon  taken 


!i  I'l  I 


In 


•  i\ 


'  Am 

m 


I  - 


28S  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPI.AWN 

quite  an  extensive  view  of  the  New  England 
States,  and  then  Alan  felt  it  necessar\-  to  return  to 
Deeplawn.  Leaving  Lionel  to  continue  his  wan- 
derings alone,  chiefly  now  among  the  cities  of  the 
Southern  and  Middle  States,  he  returned  home. 

He  was  anxious  to  be  with  the  bo\s,  to  arrange 
for  their  education  or  the  putting  to  trades  of  those 
who  elected  to  do  work  of  that  kind.  He  trusted 
much  to  Longman's  judgment  in  deciding  each 
boy's  special  aptitude  for  brain  or  manual  labor, 
and  the  trade  in  which  each  would  be  most  likely 
to  excel. 

The  few  following  weeks  were  very  busy  ones 
indeed.  Several  of  his  boys  were  now  old  enough 
to  be  apprenticed,  others  were  prepared  to  take 
positions  as  bookkeepers  or  salesmen,  while  two 
or  three  were  eager  for  professional  careers.  For 
these  he  wished  to  obtain  situations  as  teachers, 
for  it  was  not  Alan's  idea  to  help  any  of  them 
further  than  was  really  necessary.  It  might  take 
a  few  more  years  for  them  to  fit  themselves  for 
their  life-work  ;  but  that  counted  for  little  in  his 
estimation,  compared  with  what  the  means  saved 
to  him  might  do  for  others. 

Their  numbers  he  found  would  be  reduced  by 
these  changes  one  half.  This  permitted  him  to 
take  into  the  cottages,  and  under  Longman's  care, 
as  many  more  boys  from  the  congested  streets  of 
the  city.     In  deference  to  Lionel's  request,  he  de- 


I 


IN  SUMMER  TIME 


289 


cided  to  let  the  departing  boys  remain  until  Lady 
Seymour's  arrival.  New  importations  would  not 
give  her  an  idea  of  the  work  accomplished,  but 
the  improvement  in  those  who  had  spent  some 
time  at  Deeplawn  might  better  be  perceived  if  a 
few  raw  recruits  were  also  imported  just  before 
she  was  expected. 

With  this  end  in  view  he  went  to  Providence 
and  made  his  selection,  a  few  days  before  the 
steamship  on  which  Lady  Seymour  was  expected 
was  due.  Lionel  met  him  in  the  city,  and  together 
they  visited  those  dolorous  tenements  for  the 
youths  whose  futures  were  to  be  revolutionized. 
A  hard  task  it  was  to  make  the  selection.  Alan 
wanted  the  very  friendless,  but  there  was  so  large 
a  supply  of  these,  the  trouble  was  to  decide  whose 
need  was  the  greatest. 


. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 


PEERESS  AND  PAUPERS 


II 


THEY  all,  peeress  and  paupers,  went  to  Deep- 
lawn  by  the  same  train.  Alan  had  a  large- 
minded  way  of  combining  things,  and  it  seemed 
to  him  perfectly  proper  that  they  should  arrive 
together,  although  he  did  so  far  preserve  the  pro- 
prieties as  not  to  take  his  waifs  into  the  Pullman 
car  with  Lady  Seymour  and  her  daughters.  She 
had  a  glimpse,  however,  of  her  host  piloting  his 
six  shabby  followers  into  another  car.  A  very 
sorry-looking  half-dozen  youths  they  were,  some 
of  them  coatless  and  all  barefoot,  with  grimy 
faces  and  mikempt  hair.  But  there  was  a  look  of 
great  satisfaction,  on  each  pinched  face,  for  Deep- 
lawn,  the  land  of  plenty,  and  Alan  Rivers,  were 
subjects  frequently  discussed  in  that  section  of 
the  city  where  they  had  been  wont  to  burrow. 

Her  journey  ended.  Lady  Seymour  found  her- 
self too  much  fatigued  for  any  farther  sight-seeing 
that  day,  but  Lucia  was  eager  to  begin  the  inspec- 
tion of  cottages  and  bo>s  at  once.  She  and  Alan 
started  out  together,  her  dainty  gown  and  sweet 
face  making  a  very  pretty  picture,  so  thought  the 
lads  who  were  watching  for  her. 
290 


PEERESS  AND  PAUPERS 


291 


They  were  quite  as  eager  for  the  interview  as 
the  young  lady,  and  had  donned  their  Sunda\- 
best  for  the  occasion,  while  those  fresh  from  the 
city  slur  ,s  looked  on  brothers  and  acquaintances 
with  a  mixture  of  envy  and  expectation.  Before 
long,  they  too  would  be  relieved  of  their  rags  and 
provided  with  good  clothes.  Mike  was  again  on 
hand,  and  Anselmo  had  come  on  purpose  to  meet 
Lady  Seymour.  Both  were  old  enough  to  wonder 
if  this  pure-faced  girl  might  not  some  day  become 
mistress  of  Deeplawn. 

Lucia  entered  heartily  into  all  the  details  as 
Alan  explained  them,  examining  the  boys'  con- 
trivances for  comfort  and  ornamentation  in  the 
different  cottages  and  making  suggestions  that 
filled  Alan  and  his  boys  with  wonder  at  their  own 
stupidity  in  not  thinking  before  of  such  simple 
additions  to  their  household  arrangements. 

"  Indeed,  ma'am,  Mr.  Rivers  is  needing  a  bet- 
ter woman  to  look  after  them  here  than  Mrs. 
Dixon.  She's  all  very  well  for  the  butter  and 
preserves,  but  3'ou  have  helped  the  boys  more  with 
advice  in  two  hours  than  she  has  in  all  the  years 
since  we  came  here,"  Mike  said  admiringly 
when,  the  survey  ended,  they  sat  chatting  in  the 
cottage  where  Mike  was  staying.  His  own  brother 
was  one  of  the  housekeepers,  a  promising  boy, 
who  one  day  might  be  an  alderman,  so  bent  was 
he  on  becoming  a  lawyer. 


flfl! 


ill' 


-I' 


i 


i^llllp 


292  THE   MASTER   OF   DEEPLAWN 

Alan  cast  a  quick  look  into  LuciaV  face  and 
saw  the  deepening  color  in  the  dimpled  cheek,  for 
she  was  smiling  in  response  to  IMike's  suggestion. 

"  Mamma  will  be  able  to  help  you  much  more 
than  I.  She  will  be  charmed  too,  I  know.  ]\Iy 
brotlier's  descrip-tion,  which  we  thought  exagger- 
ated, did  not  half  convey  how  delightful  it  all 
seems.  We  were  inclined  to  be  amused  at  the 
boys'  housekeeping,  and  fancied  it  was  masculine 
ignorance  of  domestic  details,  rather  than  the 
boys'  skill  that  made  Lionel  so  easily  satisfied." 

"  The  boys  do  w'onders,  considering  they  never 
had  any  experience  of  what  homes  should  look 
J;  like  until  they  came  here.     Dingwell's  mother  and 

sisters  have  helped  a  good  deal,  but  their  taste  is 
none  of  the  best  in  hanging  pictures  and  fixing 
up  a  room  according  as  I  see  houses  fixed,"  IVIike 
said,  while  he  critically  examined  the  ornamenta- 
tion of  the  little  parlor. 

"  Shall  we  hang  these  pictures  over  again,  and 
may  I  arrange  the  ornaments?"  Lucia  asked, 
timidly. 

"We'll  be  delighted,  ma'am,  if  you  will,"  a 
freckle-faced  boy  responded,  who  was  housekeeper 
that  week,  and  could  therefore  speak  with  author- 

ity. 

*' Permit  me  to  be  your  assistant,"  Alan  said, 
as  he  rose  ready  to  obey  her  commands. 

She  gave  the  word  for  all  of  the  pictures  to 


^"'■■iii 


PEERESS  AND  PAUPERS 


293 


and 


come  down,  and  then  with  a  pretty  air  of  anxiety 
she  beyan  studying  effects,  in  which  she  appealed 
to  Alan  for  advice.  They  became  so  absorbed  in 
the  work  that  I.  ionel  came  to  see  what  had  be- 
come of  Llieni  while  yet  the  task  was  unfinished. 
He  failed  to  discover  which  seemed  to  be  enjoving- 
the  work  most,  the  boys  or  the  picture  hangers. 
Gradually  the  lads  from  the  nearer  cottages  heard 
what  was  going  on,  and  through  doorways  and 
windows  were  watching  every  graceful  movement 
of  the  young  lady  from  over  the  sea,  while  they 
exchanged  whispered  confidences,  comparing  her 
beauty  with  the  "  swell  "  young  ladies  they  had 
sometimes  brushed  against  on  the  crowded  city 
thorough  tares.  It  is  needless  to  say  Lucia  tri- 
umphed in  the  decisions. 

The  following  day  Lady  Seymour  announced 
herself  able  to  make  the  round  of  cottages.  The 
carriage  was  brought  and  the  party  proceeded  first 
to  the'  farthest  cottage,  some  three  miles  away. 
Alan,  after  mature  deliberation,  had,  in  the  be- 
ginning of  his  experiment,  decided  it  the  safer 
plan  to  have  the  boys  as  widely  separated  as  pos- 
sible. There  were  three  cottages  near  to  Deep- 
lawn  and  two  at  the  opposite  extremes  of  his  prop- 
erty, lie  preferred  to  have  the  larger  number 
under  Longman's  inunediate  care,  and  these  were 
a  judicious  mixture  of  good  and  bad. 

At  the  first  cottage  they  visited,  Jacob  Molensky 


i' 


'I 


mw 


294  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

was  housekeeper  for  that  week.  His  gifts  in  that 
direction  were  not  well  developed,  if  indeed  he 
had  any,  but  the  other  boys  had  come  to  the  res- 
cue, so  that  the  lioube  presented  a  fairly  neat  ap- 
pearance. The  outside  of  the  cottage,  however, 
was  a  perfect  bower  of  beauty.  Creeping  vines 
had  already  climbed  well  up  toward  the  eaves, 
while  flowers  brightened  every  available  spot. 

The  vegetable  garden  was  a  marvel  of  neatness, 
for  this  had  been  undertaken  by  one  lad,  an 
American  of  Scotch  extraction,  whose  ancestors 
had  been  under-gardeners  on  a  great  Scottish  es- 
tate for  generations.  But  "unmerciful  disaster" 
had  reduced  Donald's  family  to  a  filthy  tenement. 
From  that  unsavory  quarter  he  had  been  trans- 
planted two  summers  before  to  this  happy  home, 
and  here  he  had  determined  to  live  and  die,  the 
instinct  of  localizing  his  habitation  being  strong 
within  him. 

The  boys  had  felt  they  should  extend  some  hos- 
pitality to  their  visitors  more  than  seating  them 
in  the  little  parlor,  so  each  one  of  the  fi'^^e  had  en- 
deavored to  do  something  to  show  his  apprecia- 
tion of  the  honor  conferred.  Huge  bouquets  of 
flowers  had  been  gathered  and  tied  up  ready  to 
present  at  departure.  Fine  blackberries  and 
cream  were  standing  ready  in  the  milk  room 
down  cellar,  and  the  seldom-used  teapot  had  been 
washed  and  scalded  ready  to  brew  a  cup  of  tea  for 


Ll 


PEERKSS  AND  PAUPERS 


295 


an 


her  ladyship.  This  was  Jacob's  special  work,  and 
he  was  speculating  anxiously  how  he  was  to  con- 
vey his  cups  and  saucers  in  correct  form  to  the 
waiting  hand.^.  On  the  whole  the  boys  conducted 
themselves  with  very  good  taste,  and  were  proud 
of  the  favor  sliown  their  refreshments. 

lyady  Seymour's  eyes  bore  suspicious  signs  of 
tears  as  she  sat  talking  with  the  boys,  drawing 
from  them  the  story  of  their  former  lives  and  the 
satisfaction  with  which  they  looked  upon  their 
present  surroundings.  They  were  all  surprised 
afterward  as  they  carefully  recalled  the  different 
incidents  of  the  interview,  at  the  ease  with  which 
they  had  conversed  with  her  ladyship.  Jacob  felt 
considerable  chagrin  when  he  was  told  that  he 
always  addressed  her  as  "  Your  honor  "  ;  but  this, 
they  assured  him,  was  a  trifling  mistake,  and  she 
would  be  sure  to  know  he  meant  no  offense. 
When  she  was  leaving  she  asked  Alan's  permis- 
sion to  invite  them  all  to  Dccplawn  to  a  reception 
the  following  week,  a  request  readily  granted,  of 
course.  What  speculating  there  was  about  that 
reception,  how  they  were  to  conduct  themselves, 
and  what  they  would  have  to  eat,  while  the  dic- 
tionary was  consulted  to  find  out  what  it  meant ! 

The  party  missed  luncheon  that  day,  but  they 
had  such  abundant  supplies  of  fruit  and  cream 
and  very  strong  tea,  that  they  forgot  all  about  it 
until  they  came  home  late  in  the  afternoon  and 


296 


THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


met  Mrs.  Dixon  anxiously  waiting  for  tlieni  and 
inwardly  frettiny;-  over  her  spoiled  fowls  and  ices. 
At  every  cottage  the  desire  to  be  hospitable  was 
manifest.  As  each  one  had  its  own  berry  patch,  and 
as  the  boys  were  not  fertile  in  culinary  expedients 
the  menu  was  somewhat  monotonous.  However, 
at  the  cottage  where  Mike  was  stopping,  were 
some  fine  pear-trees,  and  their  fruit  was  served 
with  very  thin  slices  of  buttered  bread. 

The  invitation  to  the  reception  was  extended 
to  all  the  boys,  including  the  six  who  had  just 
"onie.  Ivady  Seymour's  eyes  filled  with  tears 
v/hen  the  little  fellows  came  filing  in  with  clean, 
smiling  faces,  and  flapping  rags. 

"  Yer  needn't  feel  sorry  for  us,  ma'am;  we're 
jest  as  happy  as  us  can  be  out  here,"  one  of  them 
said.  It  seemed  to  his  happy  heart  such  an  utter 
waste  of  pity  for  any  one  to  be  shedding  tears 
over  him.  "  If  yer  could  see  where  we  hcv  been 
and  what  we  had  to  eat,  yer  might  cry,"  he  added 
presently,  when  he  saw  the  tears  still  flowing. 

"  Mont  yer  please  to  tell  her  we  don't  want  fer 
nothin'  now,"  he  appealed  to  Alan. 

"  She  knows  that,  Sammy,  but  she  thinks  of  the 
thousands  of  other  little  lads  who  are  not  so,  well 
off  as  you." 

"  Is  that  all  the  boy  she's  got?  "  Sammy  looked 
up  inquiringly  at  the  stalwart  young  man  whom 
he  had  heard  address  the  lady  as  " mother." 


_ 


PEFRESS  AND   PAUPERS 


297 


*'Yes." 

"Maybe  then,  if  she's  rich,  she'd  take  some 
boys  herself." 

"  That  i:i  a  splendid  suggestion,  my  brave  young 
man,"  Lionel  said,  approvingly. 

Sammy  looked  very  self-conscious  and  proud  at 
this,  but  retired  into  the  background,  taking  his 
picturesque  tatters  quite  out  of  Lad)  Seymour's 
range  of  vision. 

The  other  boys  were  rather  inclined  to  chide 
Sammy,  but  as  the  young  gentleman  evidently 
approved  of  his  suggestion,  they  concluded  it  was 
not  necessary.  Besides,  they  were  so  interested  in 
Lady  Seymour,  feeling  even  in  their  skeptical 
young  hearts  the  touch  of  a  sympathy  having 
something  of  the  Divine,  that  when  she  left  them 
they  were  in  the  mood  for  only  the  most  benevo- 
lent reflections. 

What  a  happy  day  it  was  to  them  all,  as  well  as 
proud !  To  think  they  had  been  privileged  to 
entertain  a  real  noble  lady,  to  have  her  eat  and 
drink  out  of  their  own  dishes,  and  talk  to  them 
more  tenderly  than  had  any  other  woman  !  Her 
graciousness  had  given  them  a  glimpse  of  the  per- 
fection possible  in  women.  From  their  experi- 
ences of  the  sex  in  general  in  their  homes,  and 
with  Mrs.  Dixon  in  particular,  they  had  not 
formed  a  very  exalted  estimate  of  womanly  char- 
acter.    Mr.  Rivers,  in  their  estimation,  possessed 


__ 


HI  i 


2q8  the  master  of  deeplawn 

greater  excellence  than  all  the  women  in  the 
world  conil)ine(l.  Mike,  and  Anselnio,  and  a  few 
others  who  had  fonnd  good  homes  where  pure, 
liigh-miiuled  women  presided,  of  course,  had  quite 
different  views,  but  it  had  never  occurred  to  them 
to  express  them  in  any  of  their  conferences. 

The  two  \  oung  ladies  also  received  a  good  share 
of  friendly  criticism.  The  boys  shrewdly  divined 
that  it  was  altogether  probable,  if  Mr.  Rivers 
could  accomplish  it,  that  the  elder  daughter,  who 
had  such  sweet,  homelike  ways,  would  one  day 
preside  as  mistress  at  Deeplawn. 

The  Dingwells  were  as  interested  in  the  visitors 
as  any  of  the  boys,  and  Dandy  carried  home  lo 
them  minute  particulars  of  all  that  was  occurring. 
He  had  grown  to  be  a  fine,  healthy  young  fellow, 
with  a  set  purpose  to  be  a  farmer  aud  nothing 
but  a  farmer ;  a  decision  that  exactlv  suited  his 
mother.  Mike  made  frequent  visits  to  their  cot- 
tage ;  indeed,  no  place  in  the  world  seemed  quite 
such  a  happy  spot  as  the  small  parlor  where  he  and 
Allie  Dingwell,  the  eldest  of  the  widow's  daughters, 
made  plans  for  a  life-long  journey  together. 

The  day  of  the  reception  had  come  at  last,  and 
at  one  o'clock  the  boys  began  to  arrive  with  faces 
shining  from  a  generous  polishing,  but  expressive 
of  some  anxiety,  for  with  all  their  acquirements 
they  felt  very  ignorant  of  the  etiquette  proper  for 
receptions  and  the  society  of  ladies. 


to 


I' 


I 


■ "  ////    /  /, 

The  Master  of  Deeplawn. 

"The  day  of  the  reception  had  come  at  last  " 


Page  ■l\)Si. 


PKRRKSS   AND   I'AUPKRS 


200 


& 


if 

i 


*!i 


When  they  reached  the  lawn  they  fonnd  that 
iniposin.i;'  ])repaiations  had  been  made  there.  A 
pretty  booth  had  l)cen  erected  just  in  front  of  the 
largest  fountain.  At  one  end  a  table  was  laid  for 
their  refection,  with  such  a  repast  as  they  had  not 
seen  before :  frosted  cakes,  cold  fowl,  jellies, 
salads,  fruits,  and  ices. 

"My  sakes,  but  isn't  tlu.t  grand!''  Sammy 
t^'aculated.  He  was  the  self-appointed  spokesman 
of  the  last  arrivals,  and  as  each  one  was  rejoicing 
in  a  new  suit  of  clothes,  he  felt  more  eloquent 
than  ever.  But  the  work  .of  demolishing  those 
delicacies  was  not  to  begin  for  some  time;  other 
and    more   surprising    duties   were   on    the    pro- 


gramme. 


I^ady  Seymour  was  dressed  with  great  taste 
and  care  in  a  rich  velvet  gown  with  exquisite  lace, 
and  diamonds  that  gleamed  like  stars.  The  lads 
wondered  if  the  angels  could  look  much  more 
beautiful  than  this  lovely  woman  with  the  tender 
face  and  gentle  voice  that  seemed  really  to  caress 
them  with  its  lingering  accents.  Her  daughters 
were  gay  in  simple  but  silken  gowns  with  falls  of 
lace,  and  brightened  with  natural  flowers. 

Mrs.  Dixon  walked  grimly  about,  thinking  what 
a  melancholv  waste  it  was  to  bestow  all  that  elabo- 
rate  cooking  on  a  parcel  of  boys  no  better,  for  the 
most  part,  than  so  many  beggars.  The  new-fan- 
gled cook  and  his  assistant,  imported  by   Alan 


l!;i 


I 


300  THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 

from  Boston  before  his  visitors  caine,  kept  her 
feelings  in  constant  commotion.  She  had  never 
seen  or  heard  of  such  messes  as  they  concocted 
day  after  day,  and  held  herself  aloof  from  so  much 
as  tasting  his  compounds ;  but  Akin  was  provok- 
ingly  indifferent  to  her  sentiments,  so  she  had  to 
nurse  her  wrath  in  silence. 

The  piano  had  been  wiieeled  out  on  one  of  the 
piazzas,  and  the  lads  had  been  invited  to  bring  all 
their  instruments  of  music,  and  as  an  audience 
generally  takes  more  interest  in  a  programme  when 
they  are  expecting  to  .take  some  part,  so  the  boys 
eagerly  looked  forward  to  this  as  a  means  of  dis- 
tinguishing themselves.  Ivike  amateurs  in  gen- 
eral, they  regarded  their  performance  as  the  spe- 
cial feature  of  the  occasion. 

There  was  no  public  speech-making.  lyady 
Seymour  secured  little  bits  of  conversation,  as 
opportunity  offered,  with  one  and  another,  apart 
from  the  rest.  Afterward,  some  of  the  lads  were 
considerably  exercised  over  the  fact  that  they  had 
confessed  as  fully  their  niosi  secret  and  cherished 
plans  to  her  ladyship,  as  they  did  long  ago  to  the 
priests  in  the  narrow  confessionals,  whither  they 
tremblingly  went  for  that  special  purpose. 

Mike  drew  Alan  to  one  side  at  last  and  asked  : 

"  Are  there  any  more  women  in  the  world  like 
that  lady  and  her  daughters?  " 

"'  Probably  there  are,"  was  the  smiling  answer. 


PEERKvSS  AND   PAUPKRS 


301 


(( 


Well,  for  my  part,  I  didn't  think  they  cotild 
ever  be  made  so  good.  Why  one  wouldn't  think 
tliey  were  made  out  of  the  same  kind  of  stuff  as 
our  folks  ;  now  do  you  really  think  they  are?" 

"  Yes,  I  really  think  they  are,  strange  as  it 
seems." 

"  Do  you  think  we  can  be  as  good  when  we  die  ? 
Not  but  you  may  be  now — only  women  have  a 
charm  about  their  goodness  that  the  best  of  men 
uon't  have.     It's  wonderful  what  they  are  like. " 

Alan  glanced  at  Lucia  standing  by  the  youth- 
ful Sammy,  listening  with  happy,  smiling  face  to 
his  remarks. 

"  Yes,  Mike,  it  is  wonderful,  as  we  sometimes  find 
to  our  cost." 

"  I'd  rather  like  one  of  that  kind,  if  I  never  did 
have  the  chance  to  marry  her,  than  an\'  other 
kind."  Alike  had  for  some  days  had  his  suspi- 
cions, and  tried  to  give  his  word  of  consolation. 

"And  I  would  rather  not."  Alan  turned  away 
abruptly.  He  did  not  care  to  discuss  tliis  subject 
with  any  one,  but  he  would  as  soon  speak  of  it  to 
Mike  as  any  one  in  the  world.  He  had  no  truer 
friend,  he  well  knew,  since  Mr.  Dolliver  was 
peacefully  sleeping  in  the  churchyard,  than  this 
Irish  lad.  He  inwardly  resented  being  so  taken 
possession  of  by  another — his  self-poise  and  calm- 
ness of  spirit  utterly  broken  ;  but  he  found  himself 
powerless  to  shake  off  the  glamour  that  was  upon 


302 


TII^   MASTER  OF  DKKPLAWN 


him.  Would  it  always  be  so?  Was  it  necessary? 
These  were  the  questions  constantly  repeated,  yet 
unanswered. 

Lucia  had  promised  him  to  play  and  sing  for 
the  boys.  They  were  perspiring  now  from  their 
own  vigorous  efforts  in  making  melody.  Some 
of  them  were  very  fair  musicians,  but  it  was  very 
crude  at  the  best,  and  somehow  Alan  felt  that  he 
deserved  some  solace.  He  interrupted  the  inter- 
view between  her  and  Sammy,  the  latter  stepping 
proudly  away,  for  had  the  young  lady  not  com- 
plimented him  on  his  fine  appearance? 

"  I  think  my  turn  has  come  now,"  he  said,  look- 
ing at  the  lovely  face  turned  toward  him. 

"  In  what  way?" 

"  Ah  !  that  is  the  question  I  would  like  to  have 
you  answer." 

"  I  will  answer  it  if  you  will  explain  more  fully 
what  you  want." 

Then  she  might  have  read  a  diflferent  answer  in 
his  eyes,  but  he  said  only,  "  You  promised  me 
some  music." 

"Is  that  all?"  There  was  a  touch  of  disap- 
pointment in  her  voice. 

"  Would  you  have  me  ask  for  anything  greater?" 
There  was  a  quiver  of  excitement  in  his  voice 
which  he  foiled  to  steady. 

"I  will  give  you  the  music."  She  spoke 
timidly,    with    a    heightened    color,    and    went 


PEERESS  AND   PAUPERS 


303 


quickly  to  the  piano.  The  boys  came  trooping- 
around  while  Alan  stood  apart,  listening  to  every 
note,  }et  scarcely  enjoyin^?  the  music  that  was 
sendino-  thrills  of  rapture  through  Anselmo's  heart 
and  softening  his  face  until  he  looked  as  gentle 
as  the  musician  herself 

"Isn't   it  heavenly!"     The   young  fellow  ad- 
dressed no  one   in  particular,    but  the   youthful 
Sammy  was  on  hand  and  responded  unctuousl\- : 
"  The  angels  couldn't  better  it,  I  guess." 
Mrs,    Dixon    came    to    Alan    presently.     She 
looked  worried. 

''  That  man-cook  of  yours  says  the  ices  ought 
to  be  eat  at  once  or  they'll  all  be  melted." 
"Very  well,  you  can  give  the  signal." 
Mrs.  Dixon  had  very  little  ear  for  music,  but 
great  care  for  the  practical  side  of  life,  hence  she 
had  no  scruples  about  giving  the  signal  that  drew 
most  of  the  bo}s  from  the  piano. 

^  "  It  seems  a  pity,  miss,  to  interrupt  you,  but  the 
victuals  must  be  eat  or  some  of  them  will  spoil." 
lyucia   smiled    graciously   into   the    perturbed 
countenance  of  the  housekeeper. 

"I  am  sure  the  boys  will  enjoy  keeping  the 
food  from  spoiling  much  more  than  listening  to 
music." 

*'  Yes,  indeed,  they  are  terrible  hungry  fellows. 
Mr.  Rivers  needs  a  deep  pocket  to  bear  such  heavy 
expense." 


304 


THE  MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 


!  I 


"  And  a  large  heart  also." 

*'  Oh,  yes  ;  but  he's  got  that  anyway  more  than 
most  people.  We've  never  seen  his  like  in  these 
parts;  but  Tni  told  tliat  over  the  sea  you  have 
some  very  benevolent  people." 

"  Not  many  like  him,  I  fear." 

"Well,  I'd  sooner  he'd  be  a  little  more  like 
other  folks  in  some  tliim^s;  though  I'd  not  like  to 
see  him  change,  for,  with  the  exception  of  giving 
so  much  away  to  poor  creatures,  I  guess  he's 
about  as  perfect  as  any  one  I  ever  saw.  You  can't 
tell  anything  about  him,  seeing  him  just  when 
it's  all  plain  sailing,  but  there's  been  times  in  his 
life  when  he's  minded  me  more  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
than  any  one  I've  ever  heard  about.  It's  just 
wonderful  that  a  boy  with  no  more  clianccs  than 
he's  had  to  be  one  of  the  high  kind  of  Christians 
should  be  so  good.  I  spoke  to  him  about  it  the 
last  time  he  was  home." 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  "  Lncia  asked,  with  kind- 
ling eyes. 

"Well,  he  wouldn't  allow,  in  the  first  place, 
that  he  was  any  better  than  ordinary  folks,  but  he 
did  say  that  any  good  there  might  be  in  him  was 
due  to  the  change  he  m.et  with  when  he  was  a 
boy.  He  got  kind  of  set  on  St.  John  the  Baptist, 
and  the  way  he  held  the  world  so  light,  and  he 
has  tried  ever  since,  I  believe,  to  live  like  him." 

"And  he  has  succeeded  wonderfully."     lyucia 


PEERESS   AND   PAUPERS 


305 


spoke  softly  as  she  watched  the  boys  being  seated 
around  the  tables. 

"  For  all  he's  so  much  in  earnest  about  these 
things,  he's  not  like  the  people  that  tire  you  with 
tlieir  religion.  I  never  saw  a  boy  so  full  of  fun 
and  energy.  He's  always  been  the  smartest  young 
fellow  in  these  parts,  and  there's  few  that  can 
match  him  in  anything  he  tries  to  do." 

Alan  saw  Mrs.  Dixon  talking  more  than  her 
wont,  and  guessed  that  he  was  probably  the  sub- 
ject of  her  discourse,  so  he  hastened  to  interrupt. 

"Are  you  not  going  to  join  us  at  lunch?"  he 
asked,  addressing  Ivucia. 

"  I  think  I  would  enjoy  listening  to  Mrs.  Dixon, 
if  you  will  excuse  me,"  she  said,  with  a  dimpling 
face. 

*|  May  T  ask  what  she  is  sajing  that  is  so  inter- 
esting? " 

"You  should  listen,  and  you  will  disprove  a 
cynical  old  proverb." 

"  You  tnust  not  pay  any  attention  to  what  Mrs. 
Dixon  may  say  of  me.  I  am  all  the  boy  she  has, 
and  she  has  been  spoiling  m.e  ever  since  I  can 
remember." 

"  I  do  not  think  she  has  succeeded  very  well. 
It  must  be  hard,  Urs.  Dixon,  to  see  your  life's 
work  spoiled." 

The  worthy  housekeeper  looked  mystified  at 
I^ucia's  remark. 

u 


3o6 


THH   MASTER  OF   DEKPJ.AVVN 


"  You  young  folks  are  so  quick  I  can't  keep  the 
run  of  your  talk  very  well,  but  this  I  can  say, 
if  I've  spoilt  him,  it's  a  pity  I  hadn't  a  good  many 
more  to  spoil." 

"  Hear,  hear  !  "  I^ucia  said,  clapping  her  hands. 
"That  is  really  a  very  brilliant  speech." 

After  that  they  submitted  to  Alan's  guidance, 
and  were  soon  engaged  in  demolishing  the  "  man- 
cook's  "  ices  and  other  compositions. 


•iHlaMiiriM 


..^■.iJCiM.,.. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

AN   UNDERSTANDING 

T  ADY  SEYMOUR  was  so  well  content  at 
-L^  Deeplawn  that  she  was  not  anxions  to  be- 
o^in  the  westward  tour  just  at  once.  They  had 
planned  to  visit  the  wonderland  of  the  Rockies, 
the  dreamland  of  Southern  California,  the  mag- 
nolia groves  of  the  Carolinas,  the  marvels  of 
Niagara,  and  the  granite  ribs  of  New  England. 
Her  ladyship  cared  little  for  the  cities  ;  she  had 
seen  enough  of  their  sin  and  poverty  in  her  own 
land.  It  was  nature,  fresh  and  comjiaratively  un- 
trodden, as  it  came  from  the  hand  of  its  Creator, 
that  she  was  curious  to  look  upon.  To  see  this 
best  Alan  assured  her  it  would  be  necessarv  to 
go  across  the  border  into  the  wildernesses  of 
Canada. 

Every  day  she  had  all  the  lads  come  to  Deep- 
lawn.  Usually  at  evening,  when  their  day's  work 
was  done  and  the  toil-stained  garments  exchanged 
for  the  Sunday  best,  they  would  come  trooping 
through  the  lawns  and  gardens,  looking  as  happy 
as  if  there  did  not  lie  behind  them  a  cliildhood  of 
want,  or  before  them  an  uncertain  future  depend- 
ing on  a  young  man's  will.     They  had  all  the 

307 


3o8 


THE   MASTER   OF  DEEPLAWN 


happy  unconsciousness   of    care   natural   to    the 
young-. 

I^ady  Seymour  would  talk  with  them,  some- 
times for  an  hour  or  more,  suggesting  plans  for 
their  future  and  often  praying  with  them.  She 
would  earnestly  warn  tlieni  against  the  horrible 
vices  and  iniquities  of  many  men,  and  urge  them 
to  avoid  them  as  thev  would  the  most  dcadlv 
poisons,  when  they  should  leave  the  shelter  of 
Deeplawn.  She  had  some  peculiar  ideas,  the  re- 
sults of  much  earnest  thought  and  study,  on  sub- 
jects generally  ignored,  and  was  so  pure  and  brave 
that  she  could  speak  to  these  youths  frankly  of  the 
great  perils  and  snares  awaiting  young  manhood. 
She  did  not  believe  in  leaving  them  to  gain  their 
knowledge  first  under  all  the  glamour  cast  about 
gilded  vice.  Afterward,  when  too  late,  the  glitter 
vanishes,  but  the  death's  head  remains. 

They  started  on  their  journeyings  westwarc^^ 
the  first  of  September.  The  weather  was  very 
hot,  the  air  close  and  dusty,  but  her  ladyship  was 
resolute.  She  had  come  to  see  this  great  country 
so  rapidly  overtaking,  after  two  and  a  half  cen- 
turies of  existence,  the  older  countries  on  the 
other  side  of  the  sea.  She  did  not  intend  that  a 
little  heat  should  frighten  her  from  her  tour. 

They  took  frequent  rests,  always  stopping  in 
some  quiet  place  where  they  could  have  plenty  of 
breathing  space.     Alan  had  never  traveled  with 


AN   UNDKRSTANDING 


309 


the 


ladies  before,  but  he  was  as  patient  with  their 
miiUitiKliiioiis  wants  as  if  he  had  been  2,  pater- 
Jamilias  of  a  score  of  years'  standin<r. 

I^ioncl  assured  him  he  was  enough  to  spoil 
womankind  in  general,  his  own  mother  and  sisters 
in  particular,  but  Alan  only  smiled.  All  the  time 
he  most  devoutly  wished  it  might  be  his  lot  to 
humor  the  fancies  of  one  special  bit  of  woman- 
kind as  long  as  life  lasted. 

He  was  by  no  means  so  hopeless  a  lover  as  he 
thought.  The  mother's  keen  eyes  had  long  ago 
discovered  his  secret  and  did  not  view  it  with  dis- 
pleasure. She  felt  sure  she  could  safelv  entrust 
her  child's  future  happiness  to  his  hands,  and 
was  waiting  with  some  impatience  for  an  avowal" 
of  the  love  she  well  knew  existed.  At  last  Lionel 
was  consulted,  but  he  could  say  little,  save  to  re- 
peat the  conversation  between  himself  and  Alan 
immediately  after  that  first  visit  to  their  London 
home,  when  Alan  for  the  first  time  saw  Lucia. 

"  You  must  have  given  him  to  understand,  by 
that  ambiguous  expression,  that  it  was  useless  for 
him  to  think  of  your  sister  'other  than  as  a 
friend,'  "  her  ladyship  said,  anxiously. 

"He  need  not  ask  my  permission.  I  should 
think  if  he  loved  a  girl  it  would  be  herself  he 
would  woo,  not  her  brothers  or  uncles." 

"  You  would  view  it  just  as  he  does  if  you  were 
in  his   place.     The   ridiculous    fellow   no   doubt 


3IO 


THK   MASTKR  OF   DERPLAWN 


thinks  we  would  consider  him  not  good  enough 
for  her  because  of  liis  lack  of  rank." 

"  Mother !  "  Lionel  could  voice  his  feelings  of 
dismay  in  that  one  word  alone.  Was  it  possible 
he  had  given  his  friend  to  understand  this? 

'*  What  shall  I  do?" 

"  Ah,  that  is  the  question.  One  does  not  like 
to  seem  to  force  a  confession.  If  Lucia  could  only 
understand — but  there  is  not  enough  of  the  co- 
quette in  her  nature  to  help  in  the  slightest,  in  a 
matter  of  this  kind.  We  will  wait  awhile,  and  if 
it  is  for  the  best  everything  will  come  out  right," 

"Things  do  not  always  come  out  right  in  cases 
of  that  kind,  and  Alan  is  so  stout-hearted  he  will 
never  give  way.  Really  these  heroic  people  are  a 
trifle  tiresome  to  get  on  with  in  evcry-day  life." 
Lionel  spoke  somewhat  impatiently. 

"  We  have  not  found  him  wanting  in  any  other 
matter,"  his  mother  said  gently.  "We  should 
not  have  found  him  so  in  this  if  he  had  rightly 
understood  our  friendship.  What  prigs  he  must 
take  us  to  be,  posing  as  philanthropists,  and  yet 
withholding  from  such  a  man  as  he  must  know 
himself  to  be,  a  chit  of  a  girl  like  Lucia." 

"  You  are  a  democrat,  mother  mine,"  Lionel 
said,  with  a  laugh  that  still  did  not  conceal  his 
discomfiture. 

After  three  weeks'  journeyings  they  had  begun 
to  weary  of  the  magnificent  distances  of  this  new 


AN   UNDERSTANDING 


311 


world,  and  even  Lady  Seymonr\s  courage  grew 
faint  when  Alan  assured  her  that  they  were  as  yet 
only  beginning  the  tour  she  had  mapped  out. 

"  Some  other  time  then,  we  will  take  the  rest. 
We  shall  want  to  visit  you  again,  and  then  per- 
haps you  will  take  us  under  your  care  to  complete 
the  round." 

"  I  shall  never  be  too  busy  to  gladly  drop  every- 
thing and  accompany  you,"  was  the  hearty  reply. 

''  You  may  be  married  before  that  time,  and 
your  wife  might  object."  Her  ladyship  seemed  a 
little  nervous  as  she  spoke. 

"  I  do  not  expect  to  ever  have  a  wife." 

"But  why  do  you  talk  so  rashly,  may  I  ask? 
Are  you  proof  against  such  things,  or  are  you  too 
much  of  a  philosopher  to  stoop  to  ask  for  a 
woman's  heart?  " 

"  I  might  find  that  I  must  deny  myself  what  I 
crave,  because  too  high  above  my  reach." 

"Why  use  the  word  must?  You  have  surely 
not  fallen  in  love  with  a  royal  princess?" 

Her  own  heart  was  in  a  tremor  as  she  spoke, 
almost  as  much  so  as  if  this  were  a  love  episode 
of  her  own  ;  but  she  was  determined  to  set  matters 
right  though  she  might  risk  being  called  a  match- 
maker. 

"It  is  not  necessary  to  go  so  far  as  that,  your 
ladyship,  to  dare  too  much." 

"  You  should  not  miss  your  life  happiness  for 


313 


thp:  master  of  dickplawn 


13   ■     ' 


want  of  a  little  coiira.q^c,  surely  iK^t  in  any  case 
sliort  of  royal  rank  and  oblij^ations.  Promise  me 
you  will  at  least  make  some  effort  to  gain  what 
you  want."  Ivadv  Sevmour  trembled  at  her  own 
boldness  as  she  spoke,  but  she  nevertheless  looked 
up  unflinchingly  at  his  bewildered  face. 

"Would  you  be  willing  for  me  to  ask  your 
daughter's  hand  in  marriage?"  he  questioned, 
almost  sternly. 

"  I  should  be  quite  satisfied  to  entrust  my  child 
to  you — but  I  do  not  beg  you  for  a  son-in-law 
contrary  to  your  own  desires."  She  blushed  like 
a  girl  as  she  spoke. 

"  Dear  Lady  Seymour,  there  is  no  need  to  apolo- 
gize for  what  you  have  said.  I  knew  long  ago 
that  you  read  my  heart, — I  believe  mothers  do 
that  by  instinct, — and  I  also  knew  that  you  ft)r- 
gave  me,  since  how  could  I  help  loving  her  ?  But 
I  did  not  dare  believe  that  you  would  willingly 
consient  to  let  her  step  down  from  her  own  rank 
to  marry  ri.c,  and  I  would  have  gone  through  life 
unblessed  rather  than  ask  for  what  you  did  not 
wish  to  give." 

There  were  tears  in  Lady  Seymour's  eyes,  but 
she  brushed  them  hastily  aside.  Alan  did  not 
know  they  were  tears  of  thankfulness. 

"God  bless  vou,  mv  son."  She  held  out  her 
hand,  which  he  clasped  for  an  instant  and  then 
raised  reverently  to  his  lips.     "  I  knew  you  were 


III:  I  t 


AN   UNDERSTANDING 


313 


SO  scnipnloiisly  honorable  you  woiikl  never  speak 
unless  I  <»;ave  some  sij^n  that  you  were  weleonie 
to  do  so,  but  I  felt  almost  as  if  I  were  ofler- 
ing  myself  in  marriage.  I  hope  my  next  son- 
in-law  won't  give  me  such  a  troublesome  task  to 
perform."  She  was  ^looking  at  him  with  such  a 
proud  mother-love  in  her  face  he  did  not  think 
the  task  was  causing  her  much  trouble  now. 

"  I  trust  it  may  be  the  last  unpleasant  task  I 
shall  require  at  your  hands,"  he  said,  soberly. 
How  seriously  he  seemed  to  take  the  great  joy 
that  had  come  to  him  ;  for  a  great  joy  she  knew 
it  was  by  the  face  she  had  studied  and  learned  to 
understand  so  well,  ''Shall  we  soon  return  to 
Deeplawn?  I  think  you  told  me  just  now  that 
vou  were  getting  tired  of  sight-seeing. " 

"  We  will  turn  homeward  at  once.  You  will 
let  me  call  Deeplawn  home?" 

"  If  it  could  onlv  be  vour  home  in  realitv  !  But 
we  must  not  ask  for  everything  in  this  world." 

"I  think  if  she  consents  to  accept  you  she  will 
be  content  with  you  alone,  much  as  she  loves  us 
all ;  for  she  has  a  true  woman's  heart." 

Alan  looked  as  if  this  could  not  be  possible, 
that  he  could  fill  the  place  of  all  the  loved  ones 
she  had  been  with  from  childhood  ;  but  if  she 
would  come  to  him,  he  knew,  as  far  as  his  love 
could  do  it,  he  would  make  her  content. 


:-<   I' 


J; 


CHAPTER  XXV 


1 1 


BETROTHAL 

'T^HEY  turned  their  faces  homeward,  leaving 
J-       their  direct  route  only  for  Niagara  Falls. 

"I  may  not  live  to  come  back  to  America," 
Lady  Seymour  said,  playfully,  "and  I  want, 
before  I  pass  on  to  other  worlds,  to  see  as  much  of 
the  magnificence  of  my  native  planet  as  possible." 

"  I  hope  you  may  live  long  enough  to  go  with 
us  to  Labrador  on  some  of  our  hard-earned  holi- 
days and  see  the  mammoth  waterfall  hidden  away 
there,"  Alan  said. 

*'  We  never  could  take  ladies  over  such  a  route  ! " 
Lionel  expostulated. 

''Certainly  not  until  there  is  a  railway  to  the 
spot,  but  if  the  accounts  of  those  who  have  seen 
it  are  not  exaggerated,  some  enterprising  Yankee 
will  undertake  a  railway  there,  probably  in  our 
lifetime.  Summer  excursionists  are  tiring  of  the 
beaten  tracks.  A  trip  like  that  would  suit  their 
jaded  fancy  admirably." 

"  Y^ou  seem  fond  of  suggesting,  as  well  as  at- 
tempting, the  impracticable,"  Lionel  retorted. 

At  Niagara  a  new  experience  was  added  to  the 
already  wide   repertoire  with   which   Lady  Sey- 
314 


ill 


BETROTHAL 


315 


>> 


mour  was  provided  for  lier  journeyings  to  other 
worlds.  She  had,  in  her  )ouiiger  days,  made  an 
excnrsion  to  Iceland  in  her  father's  yacht,  to  wit- 
ness the  madcap  pranks  of  natnre  there  ;  on  the 
same  trip  had  penetrated  far  inland  on  those  Nor- 
wegian fiords ;  later  on  had  climl^cd  the  Alpine 
peaks  and  stood  within  the  shadows  of  the  Hima- 
layas and  of  the  Apennines ;  but  never  had  she  so 
vividly  realized  our  human  powerlessness  before 
nature's  uncurl^ed  forces  as  when,  in  oiled  suit, 
she  followed  her  guide  beneath  the  thunder  of 
waters  at  Niagara.  When  they  reached  the  hotel 
she  lay  down  on  the  sofa  exhausted.  After  a  few 
moments'  silence,  she  said,  reflectively  : 

"  If  our  planet  is  ridiculously  insignificant  in 
size  compared  with  some  of  the  worlds  hanging 
aloft,  it  is  at  least  a  wonderful  piece  of  mechan- 
ism. We  need  not  to  be  ashamed  of  our  birth- 
place, do  you  think,  if  we  compare  notes  with 
representatives  from  the  stars  when  we  reach  the 
garden  of  God?  One  is  not  certain  how  they 
might  regard  such  things  there.  I  am  apt  to  have 
all  sorts  of  odd  fancies  when  I  lie  awake  at  night," 
she  concluded,  with  a  smile  at  her  own  foolish- 
ness. 

"  I  seldom  lie  awake,  but  when  I  do  it  is  not 
any  such  perplexities  about  the  size  of  worlds  that 
keeps  me  from  sleeping." 

"Ah,  Lucia,  my  child,  the  other  world  I  know 


3l6  THE   MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWN 

seems  so  far  away  from  you  now,  you  scarce  give 
a  thouglit  how  you  shall  appear  there." 

"  That  has  giveu  me  very  many  troubled 
thoughts,  mamma  ;  but  it  is  my  own  individual 
merits  I  am  anxious  about,  not  my  position  in 
that  wonderful  dwelling-place  as  a  representative 
from  our  planet." 

"  I  believe  you  have  distanced  me  in  the  argu- 
ment. Nevertheless,  I  am  glad  that  I  can  indulge 
in  justifiable  pride  of  the  world  I  was  planted  in. 
It  is  beautiful,  beautiful !  "  she  murmured,  softly. 

IvUcia  looked  anxiously  at  the  thin,  tired  face, 
very  glad  that  the  restless,  eager  spirit  was  con- 
tent to  turn  homeward.  She  well  knew  her 
mother's  delicacy  of  health,  and  on  her  account 
had  looked  forward  to  this  western  journey  with 
more  of  fear  than  pleasure.  As  she  saw  the 
white  lids  presently  begin  to  droop,  she  beckoned 
to  the  others  silently,  when  all  save  Maude  with- 
drew, leaving  her  to  keep  guard  while  her  mother 
slept.  Ivionel  had  letters  to  write  and  went  to  his 
room.  For  the  first  time  since  his  conversation 
with  Lady  Seymour,  Alan  was  left  alone  with 
Lucia.  As  they  stood  on  the  piazza  looking  out 
toward  the  waterfall,  x\lan  said  : 

"  The  first  time  I  was  here  I  found  an  excellent 
view  of  the  rapids  where  one  is  not  so  deafened 
by  the  roar  of  the  cataract.  Will  you  come  with 
me  and  see  it  ?  " 


^af 


BETROTHAI^ 


i-^l 


ace, 


"  With  pleasure.  It  seems  a  pity  to  lose  a  single 
glimpse  of  the  wonderful  scene.  I  feel  like  study- 
ing its  changini;-  moods  all  the  time;  it  grows 
upon  mc,  I  find,  overwhelms  me."  She  shuddered 
slightly  as  she  spoke. 

"  I  like  to  come  here  occasionally.  It  affects 
me  differently  tv-ery  time.  Some  day  I  may  find 
the  impression  it  gives  will  be  the  same.  We 
cannot  always  continue  to  outgrow  our  emotions, 
I  presume." 

"  I  have  been  wondering  to-day  how  the  un- 
clothed spirit  would  regard  it — if,  indeed,  it  would 
have  any  tangible  existence  for  pure  spirit.  If  so, 
and  I  were  free,  I  should  like  to  be  in  the  midst 
of  it,  tossing  and  dashing  in  its  mad  play ;  there 
could  be  no  fear,  only  wild  enjoyment,  under  such 
conditions." 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  are  not  pure  spirit,  but  a 
real  flesh  and  blood  maiden,  walking  beside  me 
here." 

"  Do  you  think  that  is  a  generous  satisfaction  ? 
One  might  be  so  much  happier  in  the  spiritual 
state." 

"A  whole  eternity  lemains  for  that.  There 
are  experiences  to  be  had  here  that  I  crave  before 
death  passes  me  on  to  the  next  world." 

She  did  not  reply,  and  for  some  time  they 
walked  on  in  silence.  The  point  to  which  Alan 
was  turning  his  steps  lay  some  half-mile  or  more 


3i8 


THK   MASTER   OF   DEp:PLAWN 


from  the  hotel,  in  the  quieter  part  of  Goat  Island. 
He  was  content  to  be  walking  in  silence,  since  he 
knew,  for  an  hour  or  two  at  least,  they  two  would 
be  alone  together.  When  they  had  reached  the 
vSpot  Lucia  found  a  rustic  seat,  Alan  threw  him- 
self on  the  grass  at  her  feet,  and  together  they 
silently  watched  the  foaming  rapids  sweeping  by. 

"  When  Lionel  and  I  came  here  last  month,  for 
the  first  time  in  my  life  I  gave  a  serious  thought 
to  the  thousands  of  newly  married  people  who 
have  come  here.  Do  you  know,  Lucia,  I  hoped 
the  day  might  come  when  I  too,  should  take  my 
bride  to  some  rare  spot  of  earth,  though  it  would 
be  matter  of  supreme  indifference  to  me  whether 
it  was  one  of  the  fairest  or  not,  so  long  as  the 
woman  I  loved  was  by  my  side — my  wife."  Alan 
was  somewhat  direct  in  anything  his  heart  was 
set  upon,  and  Lucia  was  not  to  be  wooed  by  de- 
grees. "  Won't  it  be  better  still  to  plight  our 
troth  here  to-dav  ?  You  must  know  niv  love  for 
you.  Do  you  not  love  me  in  return,  and  will  you 
not  take  me  for  better  or  worse  ?  " 

She  looked  down  into  the  eager,  imperious  face 
of  the  man  who  was  not  even  suing  for  her  love 
in  orthodox  fashion,  but  seemed  to  claim  it  as  his 
right.  No  other  form  of  wooing  would  so  well 
have  suited  her  fancy,  but  she  held  her  peace. 

"Lucia,  why  don't  you  speak?" 

Her  eyes  fell  before  the  look  in  his ;  she  was 


BETROTHAL 


319 


afraid  they  might  tell  him  too  soon  what  he 
wanted  to  know,  what  she  had  been  afraid  he 
might  never  know,  and  yet,  with  the  perversity  of 
her  sex,  was  so  slow  to  confess.  "  Am  I  a'  co- 
quette?" flashed  into  her  mind,  as  if  spoken 
bodily.  She  turned  her  eyes  once  more  to  meet 
the  eyes  intently  watching  lier,  and  was  startled 
at  the  intense  pain  in  their  depths.  She  reached 
her  hand  to  him. 

"  What  do  you  want  me  to  do  ?" 

"  To  be  my  wife,  I^ucia,  my  other  better  self." 

"I  can  never  be  your   better   self,  but " 

she  hesitated  a  moment  and  then  added,  archly, 
"  I  shall  never  be  any  other  man's  wife." 

He  was  holding  her  hand  tightly  as  he  stood 
now  beside  her. 

"  You  will  be  content,  Lucia,  to  be  the  mate  of 
a  common  man,  who  can  olTer  you  nothing  but  a 
humble  name  and  the  truest  love  ?  I  do  not  for- 
get that  Lionel  told  me  you  might  one  day  be  a 
duchess  bearing  a  splendid,  historic  name— with  a 
history  reaching  back  a  thousand  years." 

"  I  am  going  to  marry  a  very  uncommon  man, 
better  than  any  duke  I  ever  knew.  I  shall  not 
need  to  consider  his  ancestors,  for  he  will  be  great 
enough  for  me  without  any  help  from  tliem."^ 

"We  will  not  talk  of  greatness.  I  nsed  to 
have  my  dreams,  but  none  of  them  included  such 
joy  as  this."     He  was  now  standing  quietly  at  her 


320 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


side.  He  smiled  at  her  as  he  spoke,  and  then 
gazed  reflectively  across  the  boiling,  turbulent 
river  that  rolled  near  by. 

"He  is  not  like  other  men,"  Lucia  thought, 
proudly.  "He  is  self-contained,  noble,  always." 
She  was  perfectly  content  to  be  standing  there  at 
his  side  in  silence.  She  knew  that  he  loved  her 
as  truly  as  one  human  being  can  love  another, 
had  loved  her  from  the  first,  as  she  had  loved  him. 
What  a  grand  life  was  open  for  them  if  God 
spared  them  to  each  other  through  the  coming 
years ;  not  living  selfishly,  but  continuing  the 
work  he  had  begmi ;  waiting  for  any  task  Gcd 
might  appoint ;  finding  the  crown  of  living  in 
serving,  not  enjoying. 


n 


God 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

MRS.    DIXON'S  SUGGESTIONS 

A  LAN  found  Lady  Seymour  awake  when  they 
-^"^  returned,  and  considerably  rested.  He 
asked  to  see  her  alone,  and  Maude  withdrew,  look- 
ing somewhat  mystified. 

"  Can  anything  be  wrong?"  she  asked  her  sis- 
ter. "  Mr.  Rivers  came  in  with  a  very  bright  face 
and  requested  a  private  interview  with  mamma. 
Does  he  want  to  marry  one  of  us?  " 

"  Mamma,  I  am  sure,  will  tell  you  later  on." 
"  I  do  not  think  she  will  need  to.  Your  face 
seems  to  have  the  same  kind  of  expression  that 
his  had.  He  is  no  doubt  a  very  fine  man,  person- 
ally, but  for  one  who  has  had  the  refusal  of  a  duke 
it  does  not  strike  me  as  a  particularly  brilliant 
offer." 

"  He  is  worth  a  thousand  of  that  little  lisping 
creature."     Lucia's  cheeks  were  now  very  red. 

"Nevertheless  any  one  in  her  senses  would  pre- 
fer the  title." 

"  I  am  ashamed  of  you,  ]\Iaude.  I  never  felt  so 
honored  in  my  life  as  when  I  learned  that  such  a 
man  as  Alan  Rivers  saw  something  in  me  worth 
loving—that  he  w^anted  me  with  him  forever." 

V  321 


y.2 


THE  mastp:r  of  dheplawn 


« 


I  ? 


I  ■ 


'*You  don't  say  so!"  was  the  half-niockinp^ 
reply,  as  Maude  swept  a  courtly  bow.  "  At  least 
my  preference  for  the  duke  has  gained  nie  a  fair 
statement  of  what  has  happened."  And  she 
laughed  as  she  left  the  room. 

Alan,  when  he  found  himself  alone  with  Lady 
Seymour  spoke  at  once  of  what  was  uppermost  in 
his  mind. 

"  lyucia  has  consented  to  be  my  wife.  Will  you 
continue  your  superb  kindness  by  giving  me  my 
wife  very  soon  ?  " 

"  Ah,  you  take  my  breath  away !  You  must 
learn  patience.  Her  father  will  not  oppose  you,  I 
am  certain,  but  he  must  be  duly  consulted. 
There  are  also  the  dressmakers  and  milliners,  and 
all  the  train  of  people  who  deck  our  brides,  whose 
help  must  be  secured. 

"  I  would  be  happy  to  take  her  in  the  gown  she 
wears  to-day.  What  do  I  care  for  the  frippery  ? 
It  is  herself  I  want." 

"We  could  not  let  our  daughter  be  married 
away  from  Wyndhurst ;  that  has  been  the  rule  of 
our  house  for  some  hundreds  of  years,  and  her 
father  must  give  her  away." 

Alan  bowed  silently  to  the  decision.  Lady 
Seymour  smiled.  She  liked  his  rugged  wooing  ; 
he  was  always  true  to  himself,  and  in  this,  as  in 
everything,  his  peculiar  characteristics  were  ap- 
parent. 


MRS.    DIXON'S   SUGGKvSTlONS  :3^ 

"  Yoli  will  make  it  as  early  as  possible  when 
yon  retnrn  to  Eno;lancl?  I  shall  not  spend  any 
more  time  at  the  nniversities,  at  least  not  for  some 
years.     My  life-work  mnst  begin  now  in  earnest." 

"  Have  yon  decided  to  be  a  clennni m ^ " 

"Yes." 

"  Have  you  spoken  to  Lucia  on  the  subject  ? 
*'No.     Remember  we  were  only  betrothed  an 
hour  ago  ;  but  I^ncia  will  not  object." 

"lam  sure  she  will  think  that  whatever  you 
wish  is  the  best,  for  you  will  marry  a  friend  as 
well  as  sweetheart." 

"Shall  I  have  your  promise  to  hasten  it?  I 
have  been  alone  so  many  years  I  am  impatient." 
"  Yon  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  place  no  un- 
necessary obstacles  in  your  way  ;  but  we  must  give 
our  daughter  a  suitable  wedding— the  amenities 
of  social  life  demand  it." 

Alan  could  not  help  wishing  for  more  primitive 
customs,  and  remembered  with  some  dismay  the 
elaborate  ceremony  to  which  he  must  submit. 

They  returned  at  once  to  Deeplawn,  where  they 
remained  a  week  before  leaving  for  England.  Alan 
was  to  follow  them  later.  The  wedding  day  was 
set  early  in  December,  and  the  remainder  of  that 
year  and  part  o:"the  winter  they  were  to  spend  on 
the  continent,  l^ucia  with  her  parents  and  sister 
had  not  only  visited  the  principal  points  of  in- 
terest in  European  travel,  but  had  also  turned 


324 


THE   MASTER   OF   DKEPI.AWN 


aside  from  the  beaten  track  and  explored  out-of- 
tlie-wa)'  places  ;  hence  Alan  could  have  no  better 
guide. 

Mrs.  Dixon  was  now  perplexed  over  the  ques- 
tion, if  Alan  was  to  become  a  minister  on  his  re- 
turn where  was  he  to  find  a  church  ?  The  little 
chapel  at  Deeplawn  was  surel\-  not  large  enough 
to  satisfy  so  energetic  a  worker.  One  evening 
when  he  had  stepped  into  her  sitting  room  to  dis- 
cuss some  business  arrangement,  she  asked  : 

*' Will  you  live  here  after  your  marriage?" 

"  I  shall  certainly  come  here,  but  what  my 
ni.arching  orders  will  be  I  do  not  know." 

"  How  in  the  world  will  you  know  unless  you 
look  a  little  sharp  after  it  yourself?  A  preacher 
ought  to  have  a  church." 

"  If  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  have  one,  the  church 
will  be  forthcoming,  never  fear.  I  have  no  more 
anxiety  about  it  than  the  birds  have  about  next 
year's  harvest." 

"  That  seems  to  me  a  curious  way  to  take 
things.  I  would  say  you  ought  to  do  something 
yourself." 

"  That  is  what  I  have  been  busy  at  the  last  ten 
years,  preparing  for  whatever  work  God  may  ap- 
point for  me,  in  the  meantime  taking  hold  of  any 
duty  that  presents  itself  as  I  go  along,  and  not 
waiting  for  some  great  service  that  may  never 
come  to  me.     The  wisest  way  I  find,  is  to  balance 


MRS.    DIXON'S  SUGGKSTIONS 


32j 


my 


ig 


each  day's  accounts,  as  far  as  possible,  at  each  day's 
close." 

"I  would  like  to  see  you  settled  at  somethini^r 
definite.  Now  if  you  could  get  one  of  those  grea^ 
New  York  churches  where  there'd  be  hundreds 
turned  away  every  Sunday  for  want  of  room,  and 
have  your  sermons  put  in  the  morning  papers !  I 
don't  want  you  to  be  one  of  the  little,  common 
kind  of  preachers  that  you  scarcely  hear  men- 
tioned outside  of  their  own  cliurch  or  neicrhbor- 
hood."  "^ 

"  You  think  to  be  popular  is  a  minister's  chief 
call?"  Alan  said. 

"  I  want  folks  to  know  about  you  all  over  the 
country.  There  must  be  a  few  popular  ones,  and 
you  have  as  good  a  chance  as  the  best.  I  am 
sure  you  have  had  every  opportunity  ;  and  Lady 
Seymour  says  you  have  great  ability,  that  there 
is  only  one  here  and  there  among  the'millions  that 
is  quite  your  equal ;  but  if  you  don't  try  yourself, 
I'm  afraid  you'll  never  be  known." 

"  I  shall  never  try,  you  may  be  sure  of  that.  It 
will  not  be  myself  that  I  shall  preach  or  uplift, 
and  it  will  not  matter  to  me  if  my  name  never 
gets  into  the  papers.  Indeed,  I  should  much  pre- 
fer not  to  have  it  mentioned.  I  have  other  work 
to  do.  God  helping  me  I  shall  keep  my  heart  free 
from  such  vanities." 

Mrs.  Dixou'  face  wore  a  very  dissatisfied  ex- 


326 


THE  MASTER  OF  DKKPLAWN 


;!ii  I 


w  \i 


III! 


pressioii.  In  some  ways  Alan  was  a  very  disap- 
pointing^ individnal.  She  had  never  before,  since 
he  was  a  lad,  so  far  interfered  in  his  affairs;  bnt 
she  had  an  instinctive  feelin*^  that  she  niiglit  criti- 
cise him  as  a  preacher,  since  that  is  a  privilege 
people  generally  take.  F'or  Alan,  the  martyrdom 
of  criticism  wonld  be  harmless,  as  it  might  be  for 
all  preachers. 

"  It  is  of  no  use  talking  to  him,"  she  grumbled, 
after  the  door  had  closed  between  them.  "He's 
that  masterful  about  what  he  calls  duty,  one 
might  as  well  talk  to  a  post.  Anyway,  I  guess 
his  wife  will  be  ambitious  for  him,  and  wives  can 
persuade  when  no  other  living  creature  can.  Be- 
sides, since  she's  a  great  lady,  it  will  help  him 
powerfully.  There's  a  sight  of  attention  paid  to 
birth  and  money  in  the  churches  as  well  as  out  of 
them."  Mrs.  Dixon  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  as 
she  reflected  on  this,  and  presently  dismissed  her 
anxieties  about  Alan's  popularity  as  a  preacher 
from  her  mind. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


THK  GREAT   DEEP 

AlyAN  bad  many  tasks  planned  for  the  weeks 
intervening  between  their  retnrn  to  Deep- 
lawn  and  bis  niarria^^e.  The  interior  of  tlie  house 
bad  undergone  but  little  change  in  five  and 
twenty  years.  Everything  was  now  old-fashioned. 
Though  the  furniture  was  originally  of  the  best 
material  and  workmanship,  and  in  an  excellent 
state  of  preservation,  yet  even  Alan  could  not 
help  thinking  that  Lucia  might  reasonably  ex- 
pect an  entire  renovation  of  the  house.  The 
choicest  upholstery  on  the  continent  would  not 
suit  his  fancy  half  so  well  as  the  old-fashioned 
furniture  that  he  remembered  from  childhood, 
but  with  Lucia  it  might  be  different. 

He  regretted  the  money  it  would  take  to  do  this. 
The  amount  necessary  to  furnish  it  throughout 
would  build  and  fit  a  house  in  the  West  larue 
enough  to  lodge  a  score  of  boys.  At  last  he  de- 
cided to  submit  his  perplexities  to  Lucia.  They 
were  alone  in  the  library  when  he  made  his  ex- 
planation. She  listened  silently  while  he  was 
speaking,  he  wishing  meanwhile  that  she  would 
make  some  suggestion  since  he  feared  that  she 

327 


32S 


the;   MASTER  OF   DKliPLAWN 


might  not  understand  his  motives  and  think  it 
was  lack  of  respect  that  led  him  to  bring  his  bride 
to  Deeplawn  without  making  even  such  prepara- 
tions for  her  home-coming  as  one  of  less  dignity 
might  reasonably  expect.  He  paused  for  a  mo- 
ment and  said  then  deprecatingly  : 

"  If  I  have  pained  you  with  my  apparent  lack  of 
generosity,  I  want  you  to  forgive  me.  I  have  not 
the  refined  tastes  chat  \our  husband  should  have ; 
you  have  a  rough  blundering  fellow  to  deal  with  ; 
but  I  want  you  to  train  me  mercilessly.  I  will 
try  to  do  your  bidding,  to  anticipate  your  every 
wish." 

There  was  a  rueful,  pleading  look  on  the  hand- 
some face  that  was  intently  studying  her  varying 
expression. 

"  I  will  never  train  you.  Rather  I  will  do  all 
in  my  power  to  keep  you  just  as  you  are.  I  do 
not  want  my  husband  to  be  a  conventional  carpet- 
kniHit.  In  re^^-ard  to  refurnishino:  this  liouse,  I 
like  it  much  better  as  it  is,  old-fashioned  and 
homelike,  with  memories  of  your  boyhood  about 
it.  I  sit  thinking  that  it  was  here  you  indulged 
your  youthful  dreams  and  ambitions  in  which  I 
bore  no  part,  and  now  you  care  more  for  me  than 
for  all  else.     Is  not  that  so  ?  " 

She  looked  up  at  him  a  little  doubtfully,  as  if 
even  yet  she  could  hardly  believe  that  she  had 
the  first  place  in  his  heart.     His  answer  reassured 


THE  GREAT   DEEP 


329 


lier,  although  he  was  not  much  given  to  protesta- 
tions or  caresses. 

"  I  do  not  know  if  fnamnia  has  told  you  that  I 
have  a  fortune  in  my  own  right  from  my  god- 
mother." 

"It  has  never  occurred  to  me  whether  you 
owned  a  dollar.  I  have  not  even  thought  of 
marriage  settlements  or  money  in  coimection 
with  you." 

vSlie  smiled  at  the  indifference  with  which  he 
spoke  of  what  would  have  been  of  very  consider- 
able interest  to  the  generality  of  men. 

"  I  am  glad  for  your  sake  that  I  have  money. 
We  can  do  so  much  more  to  further  your  benevo- 
lent plans." 

"  Your  money  must  be  left  in  your  own  coun- 
try. I  wish  to  support  my  wife  to  the  last  dollar 
— to  have  her  all  my  own." 

"We  won't  trouble  ourselves  about  it  now  ;  suf- 
ficient to  the  future  are  the  perplexities  that  may 
come." 

Alan  did,  however,  fit  up  the  suite  of  rooms  spe- 
cially appropriated  for  his  bride,  following  his  own 
instincts,  to  the  surprise  of  the  work-people  who 
came  to  execute  his  orders.  There  was  nothing 
conventional  about  it,  but  when  the  work  was 
completed,  and  they  surveyed  their  labor  as  a 
whole,  they  honestly  acknowledged  that  the 
blenditig  of  colors,   and   the  effect  of  the  differ- 


330 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPLAWN 


t 
I 


ent  articles  of  furniture  showed  a  finer  artistic 
effect  than  they  could  achieve. 

"  You  would  make  your  fortune  in  no  time  at 
furnishing,"  the  foreman  said,  admiringly.  "  I 
tell  you,  sir,  brains  make  their  mark  everywhere." 

Alan  look  around  the  remodeled  rooms  and 
concluded  something  had  made  them  different 
from  the  average,  but  was  not  aware  if  it  were 
superior  brains  or  loving  care  that  had  wrought 
the  harmony. 

This  task  completed  he  started  for  the  West, 
taking  James  lyongman  with  him,  for  he  wished 
to  settle  the  colony  of  boys  on  which  his  heart 
had  been  so  long  set,  and  for  which  he  had  denied 
himself  many  a  luxury.  He  had  secured  a  large 
tract  of  wild  land,  and  soon  completed  his  plans 
for  buildings,  and  for  laying  out  the  estate.  Long- 
man, who  had  a  natural  faculty  for  carpentering, 
was  installed  master  builder.  They  did  not  seek 
for  much  effect ;  utility  and  comfort  were  what 
they  desired.  Hence  expensive  workmen  were 
not  needed. 

Alan  often  detected  himself  painting  rose- 
colored  pictures  of  this  place  in  his  imagination, 
as  he  attempted  to  look  into  the  future.  Young 
men  and  maidens  were  to  grow  up  here  to  strong, 
pure  careers,  who  otherwise  would  be  useless  drift- 
wood on  life's  current.  The  life  God  had  given 
to  him  seemed  as  complete  and  rich  as  he  could 


THE  GREAT   DEEP 


33^ 


wish.  Work  was  liis  that  angcs  might  covet, 
opportunities  for  splendid  service  were  stretching 
out  in  the  coming  years;  his  life  as  a  whole 
was  divinely  ordered,  yet  in  perfect  harmonv  with 
his  own  desires  ;  and  the  woman  he  loved  was 
waiting  for  him  to  claim  her.  He  used  to  pause 
beside  the  workmen— rough,  unkempt  fellows 
some  of  them  were— and  wonder  why  he  had  so 
much  more  than  they,  a  great  pity  filling  his 
heart  because  they  and  all  mankind  could  not 
enjoy  similar  gifts  ;  but  he  hoped  that  in  some 
other  life  they  might  not  lag  so  far  behind  their 
fellows. 

Matters  satisfactorily  arranged  here,  he  went  to 
New  York,  setting  sail  at  once  for  Wyndhurst, 
where  already  grand  preparations  had  been  begun 
for  the  approaching  marriage. 

The  vo\age  proved  a  stormy  one  from  the 
beginning.  The  November  skies  were  leaden  the 
day  they  started,  and  the  huge  steamship  seemed 
to  groan  remonstrance  against  fronting  the  mighty 
billows  the  stormy  Atlantic  can  roil  up.  Alan 
was  one  of  the  few  passengers  able  to  keep  his 
feet.  After  a  day  or  two  there  was  on  each  face, 
from  the  commander  to  the  smallest  cabin  boy,  an 
expression  of  nnxiety,  although  they  were  well 
used  to  these  tumultuous  moods  of  the  sea  at  this 
season. 

Alan  used  to  station  himself  in  some  compara- 


332  THE  MASTER   OF   DEEPLAWN 

tively  safe  part  of  the  deck  and  watch  the  weird 
scene  about  him,  while  he  reflected  on  the  millions 
of  human  being^swhom  the  sea  had  en<>ul fed  since 
the  first  voyager  ventured  his  life  thereon,  some- 
times wonderin<^  anxiously,  if  his  fale  should  be 
like  theirs  would  the  work  that  he  had  planned 
with  such  care  go  on  ?  Would  Lucia,  after  a 
natural  period  of  grieving,  wed  some  other  man  ? 
Such  a  course  would  be  perfectly  natural,  since 
men  and  women  in  all  conditions  of  life  are  wont 
to  do  this,  even  after  marriage  has  made  them 
one.  Would  she  one  day  be  a  duchess,  bringing 
to  her  work  in  the  by-ways  of  the  world  the 
splendor  of  her  high  position  and  historic  name? 
It  was  not  a  pleasant  train  of  thought,  this  of 
fancying  I^ucia  another  man's  wife  while  he  lay 
forgotten  in  the  awful  depths  of  this  merciless  sea. 
From  such  reveries  he  would  start  for  a  hasty 
inspection  of  the  weather,  perhaps  waylaying 
some  official  for  a  few  brief  words,  but  these  were 
not  reassuring. 

So  the  time  wore  on  until  one  night  he  was 
wakened  from  dreams  of  home  and  boyhood  by 
the  sudden  cessation  of  the  ship's  machinery. 
He  well  knew  what  that  meant. 

He  dressed  quickly,  but  carefully.  His  night 
lamp  had  been  kept  burning  several  nights  in  case 
of  some  such  emer<jencv.  There  was  unusual 
commotion  on  deck,  hurrying  feet,  and  the  loud^ 


ill 


THE  GREAT   DEEP 


'^33 


sharp  command  that  could  be  heard  above  the 
roar  of  the  tempest.  Alan  hesitated  for  a 
moment  as  he  was  strapping  on  his  life-preserver, 
since  it  minrht  mean  only  a  lingering  agony  if  he 
lay  floating  on  the  billows. 

"  I  will  live  as  long  as  I  can,  every  hour  of  life 
adds  so  much  to  my  chances  for  rescue,"  he  s:iid 
half  aloud,  as  he  buckled  the  last  strap  securely. 

Ivcaving  his  stateroom  fully  equipped  for  either 
a  tussle  with  the  ocean  or  a  lingering  waiting  on 
a  crowded  boat,  he  went  at  once  on  deck.  Stew- 
ards and  stewardesses  were  passing  swiftly  from 
room  to  room,  rousing  any  who  might  be  sleeping, 
and  calling  all  to  make  immediate  preparation  for 
the  boats.  He  found  on  reaching  the  deck  that 
there  would  be  room  for  all  in  the  boats.  There 
were  many  pale  faces  gathering  on  the  deck,  but 
most  of  the  passengers  belonged  to  the  class  earh' 
trained  to  self- repression,  and  consequently  held 
themselves  under  good  control.  But  a  close 
observer  could  detect  the  same  passion  of  fear  in 
the  rigid  muscles  and  ashen  cheek  as  in  the  loud 
lamentations  of  others. 

The  huge  steamship  was  slowly  settling  in  the 
trough  of  tiie  sea.  Her  shaft  was  broken,  and  her 
hull  so  injured  that  no  skill  of  the  carpenters  and 
engineers  could  remedy  it  sufficiently  for  her  to 
continue  her  contest  with  the  elements.  IMinglcd 
with  anxieties  for  himself  and  fellow-passengers 


334 


THE    MASTKR    OF    DRRI'LAWN 


Alan  felt  a  sensation  akin  to  pity  for  the  vessel 
tiiat  had  fought  so  bravely,  but  was  now  being 
slowly  swallowed  by  the  greedy  sea.  As  he 
watched  her  slowly  settling,  he  questioned  a  pas- 
senger who  stood  beside  him,  gloomily  surve}ing 
the  scene.  Across  the  stormy  waves  a  line  of  gray 
light  was  glinnnering  in  the  east,  foregleani  of  a 
day  that  might  be  their  last  on  earth. 

"Is  there  any  chance  for  safety  in  one  of 
those?  "  Alan  pointed  to  the  boats  which  the  sea- 
men were  prepr  ;ing  to  lower. 

"  It  is  the  only  chance.  Before  the  sun  com- 
pletes one-half  its  journey  across  the  sky  to-day, 
this  ship  will  be  a  hundred  fatlioms  below  the 
surface."  He  shuddered  as  lie  spoke.  "But  I 
would  rather  go  down  in  her  than  face  that  turbu- 
lent swell  in  those  cockle  shells.  It  is  death  in 
any  case,  but  one  will  be  short  and  sharp,  and  I 
prefer  that." 

"  If  we  must  go  down,  it  matters  little  as  to  the 
way,"  Alan  said  calmly. 

"  I  see  you  are  one  of  the  religious  kind.  They 
usually  take  these  things  calmly.  I  have  had 
experience  in  them.  I  have  been  shipwrecked 
before." 

"I  am  glad  you  can  bear  such  good  testimony 
to  their  courage.  Is  it  not  strange  that  with  your 
experience  you  are  not  one  yourself?" 

"  Yes. "     The  answer  came  with  a  groan. 


I 


THK   GREAT    PKKP 


335 


Alan  forgot  the  extremity  of  his  own  case  as  he 
reasoned  witli  his  companion,  urgin*;  him,  then 
and  there,  to  yieki  his  will,  his  entire  being,  to 
God. 

''  It  is  too  late,"  was  the  one  despairing  cry. 

By  this  time  all  the  boats  bnt  two  had  been 
lowered,  and  the  crew  came  now  to  the  boat  near 
which  Alan  had  been  quietly  standing.  He  did 
not  know,  because  of  the  confusion,  whether  all 
the  boats  on  the  other  side  of  the  vessel  had  *>c>t- 
ten  off  safely,  but  knew  that  some  had  succeeded. 
There  remained  on  board  onlv  enou«'h  sailors  to 
man  the  two  boats,  a  group  of  the  most  timid  and 
perhaps  the  very  bravest  of  the  passengers,  and 
the  gallant  chief  officers  ;  in  all,  no  more  than  the 
two  boats  could  easily  hold.  Excellent  discipline 
had  been  preserved,  and  the  steamer  had  settled 
so  slowly  that  there  had  been  plenty  of  time  for 
the  embarkation. 

"  It  is  of  no  use  for  them  to  trv,  thev  mio-ht  as 
well  stay  here  and  all  go  down  together,"  the 
gentleman  by  Alan's  side  said,  hopelessly. 

"  I  shall  fight  for  my  life  to  the  last  moment  of 
conscious  existence,"  Alan  said,  as  his  keen  eye 
watched  the  rapid  movements  of  the  men  and 
noted  their  rough  skill. 

When  the  supplies  had  been  put  in  and  the 
boat  swung  out  on  the  davits,  the  seamen  took 
their  places  at  the  oars  and  the  last  of  the  passen- 


336 


THE   MASTER   OF    DEEPLAWN 


li! 


gers  were  called  to  get  in.  But  the  timid  ones 
hesitated.  Women,  some  of  whom  had  scarcely 
been  allowed  to  feel  a  rough  wind,  shrank  back 
with  terror,  while  even  men  grew  pale  as  they 
looked  first  at  the  frail  boat  and  then  at  the  wild 
waves. 

Alan  then  stepped  forward,  and  with  encourag- 
ing words  seconded  the  officers'  efforts  to  get  the 
little  group,  chiefly  of  women,  safely  into  the 
boat.  Among  them  was  a  stout  lady  who  had 
been  bewailing  her  fate  in  a  stentorian  voice  at 
intervals,  and  a  pale-fiiced  little  woman  who  had 
been  perfectly  silent  from  the  first.  She  faced 
the  appalling  spectacle  with  a  shuddering,  in- 
drawn breath,  but  gave  no  other  sign.  Several 
additional  life-preservers  had  been  thrown  into  the 
boat,  along  with  the  canned  meats,  biscuits,  and 
keofs  of  water.  As  soon  as  she  was  seated  in  the 
boat,  the  stout  lady  chanced  to  see  the  life-pre- 
servers, and  instantly  begged  to  have  an  additional 
one  strapped  about  her  voluminous  person.  She 
had  loaded  herself  well  with  jewelry  and  her  cargo 
was  valuable,  even  if  her  individual  self  would 
be  little  missed.  Alan  waited  until  there  were 
no  more  who  would  enter  that  boat,  and  at  the 
last  moment,  before  he  climbed  in  himself,  made 
one  more  effort  to  persuade  the  man  with  whom 
he  had  been  talking,  to  go  also  ;  but  he  and  a  few 
others  were  determined  to  stay  with  the  steamer. 


N 

timid  ones 
lad  scarcely 
liraiik  back 
ale  as  they 
at  the  wild 

1  encoura*:^- 
to  get  tlie 
y  into   the 
v^  who  had 
an  voice  at 
m  who  had 
She  faced 
dering,  in- 
1.     Several 
wn  into  the 
scuits,  and 
ited  in  the 
he  life-pre- 
i  additional 
rson.     Slie 
i  her  cargo 
self  would 
there  were 
and  at  the 
iself,  made 
i^itli  whom 
and  a  few 
e  steamer. 


THE  GREAT  DEEP 


m 


The  boat  was  safely  lowered,  and  then  the  last 
of  tlie  crew  and  officers  rushed  to  the  other  boat 
and  were  quickly  off. 

They  were  making  every  effort  now  to  get  as 
far  as  possible  from  the  ship,  which  was  sinking 
more  rapidly.  The  day  was  breaking,  so  that 
when  the  boat  was  lifted  on  the  crest  of  a  wave, 
they  could  quite  distinctly  see  the  figures  still 
grouped  on  the  deck,  who  had  elected  to  remain 
with  the  ship.  Alan  fancied  he  could  see  them 
beckoning  the  boats  to  return  for  them  ;  perhaps 
too  late  they  had  concluded  there  might  be  a  pos- 
sibility of  escaping  and  were  anxious  to  try  their 
chances  with  the  rest.  He  begged  the  sailors  to 
return  and  take  all  that  their  boat  could  safely 
carry,  but  his  request  was  received  in  silence. 
Again  he  urged,  when  one  of  the  men  said  : 

"  It's  too  late,  sir.  They've  had  their  chance, 
and  we'd  only  all  on  us  get  swamped." 

The  stout  lady  shrieked  with  terror,  while  Alan, 
disheartened,  watched  for  every  glimpse  possible 
of  his  late  fellow-voyagers.  The  boat  was  sud- 
denly tossed  more  fiercely  than  ever,  while  the 
sailors  barely  kep     ler  from  overturning. 

"  I  guess  that's  the  sea  that  took  the  steamer 
down,"  one  of  them  said,  when  the  worst  of  the 
danger  was  over ;  and  sure  enough,  when  they  rose  ' 
on  the  next  wave  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen 
but  the  sky  and  the  sea.     Alan  urged  the  crew  to 

w 


33^ 


THE   MASTER  OK   DEEPLAWN 


go  back,  for  possibly  some  might  come  again  to 
the  surface,  buoyed  up  by  their  life-preservers. 

"It's  no  use,"  an  old  tar  said,  moodily. 
"  They'll  all  be  drowned  before  they  see  daylij^ht 
again,  the  ship'll  carry  them  so  far  down  with 
her.  The  suction's  powerful  strong  when  a  big 
steamship  goes  down,  I  can  tell  ye." 

*' We  can  at  least  go  and  see,"  Alan  said. 

The  boat  was  turned  carefully  and  they  pro- 
ceeded toward  the  spot,  but  nothing  could  be 
seen.  The  day  grew  clearer.  Across  the  waters 
a  few  gleams  of  sunshine  were  stealing,  while  the 
wind  certainly  was  blowing  less  furiously. 

"  Why  don't  you  row  for  land  ?  "  the  stout  lady 
said,  querulously.  "  What's  the  use  beating  round 
in  one  spot  ?  " 

"Well,  ma'am,  for  one  reason  we're  about  a 
thousand  miles  from  land,  near  as  I  can  make 
out,  and  us  fellers  'd  find  that  a  pretty  longish 
row,  specially  in  this  sea."  The  sailor  grinned  as 
he  spoke. 

A  scream  of  despair  was  her  only  reply. 

"  Never  you  fret,  lady.  We're  in  the  track  of 
the  winter  steamers.  If  we  can  hold  on  for  a  day 
or  two,  some  of  'em'U  maybe  pick  us  up." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  you  are  going  to  keep 
us  in  this  nasty  little  boat  all  that  time?  " 

"  Not  ag'in  yer  will,  madame.  We'll  h'ist  ye 
overboard  whenever  ye  gives  the  word." 


isr 

me  again  to 
cservers. 
1,  moodily, 
see  daylight 
down  with 
when  a  big 

said. 

d  they  pro- 

g  could   be 

i  the  waters 

*•,  while  the 

isly. 

t  stout  lady 

ating  round 

re  about  a 
can  make 

tty  longish 
grinned  as 


ply. 

fie  track  of 

'U  for  a  day 

ip." 

ng  to  keep 

:'ll  h'ist  ye 


THE   GREAT  DEEP 


339 


I 


The  lady  searched  for  her  pocket  handkerchief 
but  It  had  been  left  behind. 

"Whatever  shall  I  do?  All  mv  good  clothes 
are  gone  too.  What  shall  I  do  when  I  ^et  to 
land  ?  "  ** 

"  It's  my  opinion  yer  standin'  a  poor  chance  of 
gettiu'  there.  Appearances  is  that  ye'll  be  a  fol- 
lenn»  of  yer  good  clothes  afore  manv  days." 

"  Oh,  you  dreadful  creature  !  Didn't  you  tell 
us  a  steamer  was  coming  this  way  ?  " 

*'  Maybe  them  that's  out  has  all  gone  down  like 
our  own.  In  that  case  we'll  hev  to  wait  till  some 
others  start  from  shore.  By  that  time  ye'll  hev 
fretted  yerself  to  death,  and  may  be  we'll  have 
et  ye,  beni'  as  vittels  ain't  none  too  plentiful." 

The  stout  lady  moaned  despairingly,  but  Alan 
interposed  to  comfort  her.     At  eight  o'clock  food  ' 
was  handed  around.     Only  one  tin  cup  had  been 
supplied,  but  even  the  most  fastidious  gladly  took 
their  turn. 

"  It  is  like  a  love-feast,  only  we  do  not  have  the 
experiences."  It  was  the  little  gentle-faced  woman 
who  spoke,  while  she  smiled  as  cheerfully  as  if 
they  were  a  picnic  party  out  on  a  quest  for 
pleasure. 

"  Haven't  you  any  one  to  fret  about  you  if  you 
should  never  be  heard  from?"  the  stout  lady  in- 
quired. 

"  Yes,  my  husband  in  India  would  grieve,  and 


340 


THE   MASTER  OF   DEEPI^AWN 


my  four  children  in  America  wonld  miss  a  moth- 
er's love  and  prayers,  but  whatever  h.ippens  will 
be  all  ri^i^lit."  She  smiled  placidly  as  she  spoke, 
as  if  it  were  all  life,  here  or  in  other  worlds,  and 
it  mattered  little  where  one  might  be  as  long  as 
they  were  about  God's  work. 

Alan  now  took  his  Rible  from  his  pocket,  and 
for  an  hour  or  more  read  from  its  pages  and  talked 
to  his  little  audience  of  less  than  a  dozen,  more 
earnestly  perhaps  than  he  had  ever  done  to  any 
audience  in  his  life.  Even  the  sailors  sometimes 
leaned  on  their  oars  to  listen.  Then  he  relieved 
one  of  the  sailors  at  the  oars.  The  man  lay  down 
wearily  and  was  soon  fast  asleep  in  the  bottom  of 
the  boat.  At  noon  the  food  was  again  passed 
around,  but  there  was  little  eaten,  except  by  the 
men  at  the  oars. 

The  short  day  began  to  wane.  Although  well 
supplied  with  wraps,  all  save  the  rowers  were  blue 
with  the  cold,  while  the  weary  faces  that  looked 
out  over  the  tossing  sea  were  sufficient  to  dis- 
hearten the  most  cheerful.  Now  and  then  a  quav- 
ering hymn  broke  from  the  lips  of  the  little  lady. 
They  had  all  exchanged  names,  and  acquainted 
each  other  with  their  pla  es  of  abode.  Her  name 
was  Manning.  She  and  her  husband  were  mission- 
aries, who  had  been  home  on  furlough.  He  had 
gone  to  England  a  few  weeks  before,  on  the  jour- 
ney to  his  field  of  toil,  but  she  had  remained  in 


Ml 


a  moth- 
ens  will 
'.  spoke, 
Ids,  and 
long  as 

cet,  and 
I  talked 
n,  more 
to  any 
letimes 
elievcd 
y  down 
ttom  of 
passed 
by  the 

!:h  well 
re  blue 
looked 
to  dis- 
i  quav- 
e  lady, 
ainted 
■  name 
ission- 
'e  had 
t  jour- 
led  in 


THR  GRKAT   DEEP 


341 


America  with  her  children  as  long  as  possible. 
vShe  was  leaving  them  with  her  parents  and  was 
naturally  a  little  heavy-hearted  at  the  long  separa- 
tion that  must  ensue  before  she  would  see  them 
once  more. 

The  night  closed  in  thickly  ab(mt  them.  Alan 
changed  his  place  and  took  a  seat  beside  the  brave 
little  missionary,  whose  courage  siiowed  no  signs 
of  faltering.  Screening  her  avwell  as  he  could 
from  the  wind,  he  drew  the  tired  head  against  his 
arm,  and  in  a  little  while  was  glad  to  find  that  slie 
had  forgotton  her  sorrows  in  the  blessed  oblivion 
of  sleep.  The  night  wore  on,  as  the  longest  nights 
are  wont  to  do,  until  the  dark  hour  just  before 
the  dawn,  when  all,  save  the  men  at  the  oars, 
were  nodding  on  their  seats. 

Suddenly  a  cry  startled  them  :  *'  Ship  ahoy  !  " 
In  an  instant  the  drowsiest  was  wide-awake  and 
joining  the  general  call  for  help  as  the  huge  steam- 
ship came  steadily  toward  them.  Their  cries  were 
unheard  as  they  might  have  known  they  would 
be  in  the  sob  and  swell  of  wind  and  sea  and  the 
creaking  of  the  ship's  machinery.  The  boat  was 
caught  in  the  swell  caused  by  the  vessel,  as  she 
forged  steadily  past  them,  forcing  the  men  at  the 
oars  to  increased  activity  to  save  themselves  from 
being  engulfed. 

Alan's  courage  began  to  fail  him,  while  life  had 
never  seemed  so  precious  as  now.     The  men  set- 


342  THE   MASTER   OF   DEnlTAWN 

tied  doggedly  to  their  oars  and  for  some  time  there 
was  unbroken  silence.  Wlien  the  day  broke  each 
was  shocked  at  the  haggard  appearance  of  his 
fellow-voyagers.  M^s,  Paxton,  the  stout  lady,  had 
collapsed  utterly  and  lay  a  disheveled  heap  on  a 
pile  of  rugs,  but  Mrs.  Manning  bore  up  cheerily. 
Even  the  sailors,  inured  to  the  dangers  of  the  sea, 
seemed  to  draw  courage  from  her. 

Precisely  on  the  hour,  Alan  passed  around  the 
food  which  he  called  breakfast.  All  partook  ex- 
cept Mrs.  Paxton.  She  had  reached  that  speech- 
less state  of  misery  not  far  removed  from  loss  of 
reason.  Another  day  began  to  wear  away.  From 
certain  symptoms  the  little  company  began  to 
grow  uneasy  about  Mrs.  Paxton.  Although  ap- 
parently so  full  of  robust  health  she  was  standing 
the  strain  the  poorest  of  any.  Another  night's 
exposure  might  extinguish  the  flame  of  life  that 
was  already  flickering  feebly. 

The  sea  was  coniparativel\-  calm  now,  the  No- 
vember sun  shining  quite  brilliantly,  and  every 
eye,  save  Mrs.  Paxton's,  was  scanning  tlie  far  hori- 
zon for  signs  of  steamship  or  sailing  vessel.  Sev- 
eral times  on  the  distant  rim  dividing  sea  and  sky 
they  saw  white  sails  dipping  out  of  sight.  P\>ur 
o'clock  was  on  them.  Soon  night  would  close  in, 
another  dreary  night,  worse  than  the  last  because 
their  strength  was  farther  spent.  Even  the  little 
missionary  grew  faint-hearted. 


h 


THE  GREAT  DEEP 


343 


Suddenly,  up  from  tlie  world  of  waters,  another 
steamship  loomed,  and  oh,  joy  !  their  boat  lay  in 
her  track.  Alan  was  the  tallest  in  the  boat.  The 
rowers  held  her  as  steadily  on  the  course  as  possi- 
ble, while  he  stood  in  the  prow  holding  up  an  oar 
with  a  rug  fastened  to  it,  as  high  as  he  could 
reach.  How  feverishly  they  watched  the  sun  sink- 
ing low  toward  the  horizon  and  the  on-coming 
steamship!  Which  would  travel  fastest?  If  not 
seen  before  sunset,  the  twilight  was  so  short  they 
would  scarceh/  be  noticed,  a  little  darkening  speck 
on  the  wide,  dim  sea.  ]\Irs.  Manning  quickly  saw 
that  they  must  have  a  white  signal. 

"How  shall  we  get  one?"  Alan  asked,  anx- 
iously. 

A  faint  tinge  crept  into  the  wan  cheek,  but  she 
said  bravely  :  "'  J  put  on  my  dress  over  my  night- 
dress.    I  will  give  you  that." 

Soon  her  snowy  garment  was  spread.  It  had 
not  swung  from  the  oar  five  minutes  when  a  puff 
of  smoke  burst  from  the  ship's  side,  and  a  little 
later  the  glad  reverberation  struck  their  ears. 

"  Was  there  ever  such  music  as  that  in  all  the 
world?"  Mrs.  Manning  said,  bursting  into  tears. 

"  Ye  needn't  fret  now,  \  on  dear  little  woman. 
It  was  vou  that  saved  us  all,"  a  rouiih  sailor 
said,  with  a  quiver  in  his  voice.  The  steamer 
was  bearing  swiftly  down  upon  them,  but  Alan 
still  swung  his  signal  aloft,  until  an  answering  flag 


344  THE  MASTER  OF  DEEPLAWX 

was  unfurled,  which  the  seamen  knew  meant  cer- 
tain rescue.  The  sun  was  dipping-  out  of  si^ht. 
Would  the  daylight  last  until  they  were  rescued? 

Mrs.  IManning  had  dried  her  eyes  and  was  watch- 
ing the  ship  with  a  pink  glow  on  the  pinched 
face.  The  sailors  did  not  know  it  was  gratitude 
to  her  all-powerful  Father  that  had  caused  that 
burst  of  weeping.  It  had  eased  her  full  heart, 
and  now  she  could  have  sung  for  very  gladness, 
only  she  was  so  chilled  and  faint. 

Mrs.  Paxton  was  aroused  sufficiently  to  raise 
her  head  and  emit  deep  groans  at  frequent  inter- 
vals, while  she  watched  the  shadows  of  evening 
settling  between  them  and  deliverance. 

"  However  am  I  to  get  hoisted  up  into  the 
ship?"  she  questioned,  plaintively. 

"  That'll  be  the  easiest  of  our  troubles  if  once 
we  get  near  enough  to  give  you  a  pull,"  a  sailor 
responded,  cheerfully.  Presently  the  steamer's 
whistles  began  to  blow. 

"  That'll  make  us  safe  if  it  gets  pitch  dark.  It 
don't  make  the  leastest  odds  which  on  us  finds 
t'other  as  long's  it's  done,"  a  dark-browed  sailor 
remarked,  complacently. 

Presently  they  w^ere  close  enough  to  see  that  the 
huge  black  hull  was  waiting  motionless  for  them 
in  mid-ocean.  Here  was  human  life  in  peril,  and 
nowhere  does  life  seem  more  precious  than  to  the 
t  >ilers  on  the  sea. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


THE   END 


WHEN  Alan  reached  New  York,  for  the  res- 
cuing steamer  was  westward  bound,  he 
cabled  at  once  to  Wvndhurst.  The  day  that  was 
to  have  been  his  wedding  day  was  spent  at  sea, 
but  he  managed  to  preserve  an  outward  calm,  al- 
though his  spirit  fretted  at  the  pain  and  suspense 
his  absence  must  be  causing.  Mrs.  Manning  de- 
cided to  re-embark  with  him  on  the  next  steamer, 
but  iVIrs.  Paxton  had  assured  them  all  a  good 
many  times  each  day  that  no  money  could  tempt 
her  to  brave  an  Atlantic  voyage  again,  unless  in 
midsummer. 

The  second  trip  was  so  stormy  that  even  Mrs. 
Manning  used  to  scan  the  seamen's  faces  and  the 
sky  with  evident  anxiety,  but  they  reached  Liver- 
pool in  good  time.  Alan,  without  a  moment's 
delay,  hastened  to  Wyndhurst.  The  wedding  feast 
would  be  stale  by  this  time,  but  so  much  the  bet- 
ter if  thereby  he  might  escape  the  infliction  of  a 
grand  wedding.  Indeed,  he  would  not  hold  ship- 
wrecks an  unmitigated  evil  if  they  procured  that 
gain. 

He  was  received  as  one  alive  from  the  dead. 

345     • 


I 


I 


346  THE   MASTKR   OK   DKEPLAWN 

Lucia  had  endeavored  to  be  brave,  but  had  suf- 
fered severely  from  the  days  of  suspense.  Lady 
Seymour  hovered  around,  and  mothered  him  so 
tenderly  he  assured  her  it  would  be  worth  while  to 
have  periodic  escapes  from  similar  dan<^ers  to  en- 
joy such  tender  solacement.  To  his  dismay  he 
found  that  the  marriage  state  was  to  be  in  no  wise 
abated. 

He  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  when  at  last  all 
the  grand  display  of  silks  and  laces,  precious 
stones  and  costly  viands,  had  passed  into  history, 
and  he  and  Lucia  were  permitted  to  start  out  alone 
to  take  the  honeymoon  that  married  lovers  look 
back  upon  in  after  years.  He  had  met  all  the 
great  people  of  the  country,  the  witle  circle  of 
relatives  whom  the  clergyman's  words  had  made 
his  own,  and  was  received  by  them  with  a  charm- 
ing cordiality,  not  altogether  due  to  the  fact  that 
he  was  Lady  Seymour's  son-in-law. 

The  \oung  couple  were  back  in  London  the 
last  of  the  winter,  Lucia  quite  as  anxious  as  Alan 
to  get  home  to  Deeplawn,  to  take  up  in  earnest 
their  life-work  together.  All  sorts  of  dire  predic- 
tions were  made  by  their  friends  as  to  the  misfor- 
tunes that  would  befall  them  if  they  ventured  to 
cross  the  ocean  in  ]\Iarch,  but  the  trip  was  phe- 
nomenally calm. 

Extensive  preparations  for  their  home-coming 
were  being  made  at  Deeplawn.    Wedding  presents 


THE   END 


347 


of  every  conceivable  shape  ai;d  variety  were  beiiif^ 
niaiuifactiired,  and  suitable  wearini^  apparel  was 
beinji;-  secured,  in  which  the  donors  were  to  per- 
sonally present  their  offerings. 

The  day  they  arrived  was  one  of  those  inspiring 
ones  March  happily  mixes  in  with  its  storms — 
bright  sunshine,  with  the  wind  blowing  from  the 
northwest,  with  exquisite  cloud-forms  floating  like 
joyous,  living  things  across  the  blue  dome,  their 
shadows  sweeping  hillside  and  sea. 

They  came  in  the  train  which  reached  Deep- 
lawn  station  in  mid-afternoon.  Every  one  of 
Alan's  tenants  old  enough  to  leave  the  cradle,  with 
all  his  boys  from  far  and  near,  was  waiting  to  do 
him  honor.  Rven  Mrs.  Dixon  unbent  from  her 
usual  aloofness  so  far  as  to  make  one  in  the  com- 
pany of  his  employees  and  beneliciaries. 

Lucia  responded  with  a  cordial  grace  that 
charmed  them  all,  to  their  friendly  overtures. 
There  were  many  shining  faces  and  bright  eyes 
in  the  gathering.  Every  lad  was  prepared  to  wel- 
come and  love  the  new  mistress  of  Deeplawn 
equally  with  its  master. 

A  grand  feast  had  been  prepared  by  Mrs.  Dixon 
and  her  staff,  in  which  she  had  been  ambitious  to 
outshine  the  chef  of  the  previous  >  ear,  and 
Eucia's  warm  encomiums  at  the  close  of  the  feast 
left  her  nothing  further  to  desire. 

After  a  short  stay  at  Deeplawn,  the  spirit  of  uu- 


i 


348  THE   MASTER   OK   DKEPLAWN 

rest,  or  rather,  longiii«j[  to  be  in  real  work,  drew 
Alan  to  the  West.  When  he  reached  Riverbank, 
the  name  the  boys  had  chosen  for  tlieii  home, 
he  found  his  presence  was  sorely  needed.  James 
Lono;^nian  had  been  absent  only  a  few  weeks,  but 
in  that  time  the  seeds  of  disloyalty  had  been  quite 
widely  sown.  The  man  left  in  charge  was  pos- 
sessed of  an  unfortunate  temperament,  although 
in  every  other  respect  admirably  suited  for  the 
position. 

Alan  was  quick  to  decide  in  such  matters.  The 
individual  was  sacrificed  at  once  for  the  general 
good.  He  had  no  false  views  of  mercy,  since  he 
believed  in  the  wisdom  of  seeking  the  greatest 
good  of  the  greatest  number.  This  made  him 
slow  to  work  with  large  numbers  in  any  enter- 
prise. He  believed  that  incompetent  persons 
were  too  often  retained  in  positions  for  which 
they  were  wholly  unqualified  because  of  false 
pity  or  personal  influence.  Lucia  was  amazed 
at  the  swiftness,  as  well  as  clearness  of  his  judg- 
mcnls.  Even  when  he  impressed  her  as  being 
stern,  she  was  still  confident  that  he  was  right. 

Before  long  she  was  fully  as  enthusiastic  as  he 
over  this  Western  enterprise,  which  was  restored 
to  prosperity  by  Alan's  securing  a  suitable  super- 
intendent, and  was  beginning  to  think  that  the 
work  here  and  at  Deeplawu,  including  the  settle- 
ment in  life  of  all  these  boys  and  girls  and  the 


THE   END 


349 


k,  drew 
erbank, 
;  lioiiic, 
James 
^ks,  but 
211  quite 
;as  pos- 
iLliougli 
for  the 

s.  The 
general 
ince  he 
greatest 
:le  him 
i  enter- 
persons 

wliich 
f  false 
iniazed 
s  judg- 

being 

:  as  he 
L\stored 

supcr- 
lat  the 

settle- 
tid  the 


super\'ision  of  the  extensive  properties,  was  quite 
enough  for  any  man  ;  but  as  the  months  wore  on 
she  found  that  Alan  was  not  reasonable  in  the 
amount  of  work  he  planned  for  himself. 

"We  should  call  you  a  merciless  taskmaster  if 
it  were  another  than  yourself  that  you  compelled 
to  work  so  hard,"  she  said  to  him  once,  by  way  of 
remonstrance. 

''It  is  because  so  many  are  idle  that  the  few 
must  bear  heavy  burdens;  besides,  we  can  pass 
this  way  but  once.  That  thought  makes  life  tre- 
mendously solemn  to  me." 

"  And  yet  you  seem  joyous  in  your  work.  I 
never  saw  any  one  moie  so." 

''  I  can  only  be  content  when  working  to  my 
utmost.  You  are  not  tired  of  a  working-man  for 
your  husband?  You  knew  what  I  was,  Lucia, 
when  you  took  me  '  for  better,  for  worse. '  I  hope 
you  are  not  finding  it  has  been  for  worse. "  There 
was  anxiety  and  pain  in  both  face  and  voice  as  he 
stood  looking  down  so  tenderly  into  her  sweet  face. 

"  It  has  been  all  for  better.  I  would  not  have  you 
different  from  what  you  are,  not  the  very  slightest, 
if  I  could."  She  turned  and  kissed  the  hand 
pressing  lightly  on  her  shoulder. 

"Then  we  are  supremely  happy.  Should  we 
not  give  much  when  so  much  has  been  given 
us?" 

"  Yes."     The  answer  was  uttered  softly.    Some- 


350  THE   MASTER   OF   DEEPLAWN 

times  I^icia  felt  as  if  Christ  himself  were  speakiiifr 
to  her  in  some  mysterious  way  tlirouj^h  her  Inis- 
baiid's  words.  She  certainly  knew  that  he  dwelt 
farther  within  the  divine  presence  than  any  one 
she  ever  knew. 

Sometimes  he  came  to  her  with  a  perplexed 
look  on  his  face,  and  always  at  such  times  with 
an  open  letter  in  his  liand.  8he  grew  at  last  to 
understand  the  token — -ome  ]>astnrless  churcli 
was  seeking  him  for  its  minister.  Now  it  was  a 
fashic  'able  city  church  that  ofTered  as  inducement 
a  larj^c  salary  ;  and  then  a  run-down  charge  desir- 
ing a  brilliant  preacher  to  fill  its  empty  pews ;  or 
occasionally  a  mission  chapel,  to  which  had  come 
rumors  of  his  wealth  and  work,  besought  him  to 
come  to  its  relief.  Unfortunately  there  were  so 
many  messages  of  this  kind,  he  concluded  Provi- 
dence had  nothing  to  do  in  the  matter,  but  was 
calling  him  to  a  new  work  of  his  own. 

Lucia  was  first  consulted  and  later  on  Lady 
Seymour,  both  of  whom  gave  him  hearty  encour- 
I  agement  in  the  enterprise.     The  thought  had  been 

''  slowly  developing  in  his  mind  that  more  might 

be  accomplished  if  he  became  pastor  and  patron 
of  his  own  mission,  drawing  around  him  a  band  of 
helpers  who  would  be  responsible  to  himself  alone, 
although  walking  in  conjunction  with  an  estab- 
lished church.  He  planned  to  have  his  church 
self-supporting  if  possible  ;  neither  was  it  to  be  the 


:t? 


THIC   END 


351 


church  of  the  rich  or  of  the  poor  exchisively,  but 
rather  a  uieetiug- place  \vlR:re  the  difiereut  classes 
could  learu  their  couimon  brotherhood  aud  iuipart 
to  each  other  their  varied  experiences  and  views 
of  life's  meanings  and  aims. 

Three  years  saw  this  dream  partly  realized,  and 
promisinof  to  become  the  most  successful  enter- 
prise that  he  had  yet  attempted.  The  modest 
chapel  on  a  quiet  street  in  the  great  city  had 
been  outgrown,  and  a  massive  down-town  church 
that  had  been  kept  in  operation  by  its  congrega- 
tion at  a  ruinous  cost,  considering  what  it  was  ac- 
complishing, had  been  rented  for  a  term  of  years, 
and  in  due  time  a  large  and  influential  church 
keeping  the  New  Testament  order,  was  estab- 
lished, whose  power  was  ever  increasing. 

Deeplawn  was  still  the  real  home  of  Alan  and 
Lucia,  although  modest  apartments  had  been  rented 
near  to  the  church.  These  were  made  the  headquar- 
ters for  the  work  generally.  All  their  plans  were 
made  here,  while  workers  who  needed  a  few  days' 
rest  found  it  a  happy  asylum  in  which  to  recu- 
perate their  energies,  expended  in  that  most  ex- 
hausting work,  wrestling  with  the  sins  and  weak- 
nesses of  the  dark  places  of  a  great  citv. 

The  long  vacated  nursery  at  Deeplawn  echoed 
again  to  the  merry  shouts  of  childish  voices. 
Another  Rex  and  his  baby  brother  Alan  had 
started  on  their  long  journey  through  the  eterni- 


352  THE   MASTER   OF   DKEPLAWxX 

tics.     The  father,  as  he  looked  into  the  innocent 
face  of  his  first-born,  waukl  ask  liiniself :  Was  there 
any  possibility  of  this  little  lad  making  shipwreck 
of  life  as  that  other  Rex  had  done  ?     To  s  ive  him 
from  that  he  would  gladly  see  the  white  lids  close 
111  the  sleep  of  death  ;  but  he  did  not  fear  such  a 
fate  for  his  boy.     With  God's  help,  he  and  his 
noble  wife,  loved  more  than  when  led  as  a  bride 
to  the  altar,  hoped  to  train  their  own  and  many 
another  child  to  lives  of  noble  Christian  service 
For  this  he  lived  and  labored,  and  in  such  work 
he  found  a  joy  divine. 


THE   END 


■  .#>■     ■OJPiy"       yi^!  "HIVJ*    UUP  '     «     .■•  I 


